Skip to content

终于

zhōng yú
HSK 2.0 Level 3 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Adverb Very common

Definitions

  1. 1. at last
  2. 2. in the end
  3. 3. finally
  4. 4. eventually

Stop forgetting what you study. Build recall daily.

Try HanyuGuide's Chinese review system with multiple choice, typed recall, tone-aware practice, and reviews scheduled before memory fades.

Get Yearly · $49.99 / year

Sign up with Google
Continue with Email

By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

Try a practice session

Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item
始终
shǐ zhōng

from beginning to end

始终 means 'from beginning to end' or 'always', contrasting with 终于's sense of 'after a long wait'.

Related words

1 item
毕竟
bì jìng

after all

毕竟 expresses 'after all', sharing a concluding tone.

Usage notes

Common mistakes

终于 indicates that something long-awaited has finally happened; do not use it for events that simply occur after others without a sense of anticipation.

Grammar

Guides that feature 终于

Jump into a full guide with fill-in-the-blank drills. Clicking will load the page and move you to the top.

2 guides
HSK 2.0 Level 3+ HSK 3.0 Level 3+ 6 min
当然, 其实 and 终于 for “Of Course,” “Actually” and “Finally”

Use 当然 for something obvious, 其实 for the real truth behind how things look, and 终于 for something that finally happens after a wait.

Reading: zhōng yú Open guide
HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 7–9+ 6 min
时间顺序 for Telling Events in Time Order

Organise a story or account in time order: anchor each step with a time word, and link the steps with 起初, 后来, 接着 and 终于.

Reading: zhōng yú Open guide

Example Sentences

5 shown
他 终于 从会议中脱身了。
He finally got away from the meeting.
他 终于 实现了自己的理想。
He finally realized his dream.
他 终于 承认了自己的错误。
He finally admitted his mistake.
我 终于 说服了他同意这个计划。
I finally persuaded him to agree to this plan.
他 终于 摆脱了困境。
He finally got out of the predicament.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Child Words of 终于

于
yú

(of time or place) in; at; on

终
zhōng

end