“Finally” in Chinese 2 – 總算 总算 zǒngsuàn

Grammar Point:
總总算 zǒngsuàn is an adverb in Chinese that means “finally,” “at long last,” or “after all the effort or waiting.” It is used to express a sense of relief, satisfaction, or achievement after overcoming challenges or enduring a long process.

Structure

S + 總总算 zǒngsuàn + V or Adj

總总算 zǒngsuàn often conveys the speaker’s emotional relief or satisfaction after a process of struggle, hard work, or waiting. Also often hints that the outcome took longer or was harder to achieve than expected.

火車huǒchē晚wǎn了le兩liǎng個ge小時xiǎoshí， 總算zǒngsuàn來lái了le火车huǒchē晚wǎn了le两liǎng个ge小时xiǎoshí， 总算zǒngsuàn来lái了le
The train was delayed for two hours but finally arrived.

天氣tiānqì總算zǒngsuàn晴qíng了le天气tiānqì总算zǒngsuàn晴qíng了le
The weather is finally good.

等děng了le那麼nàme久jiǔ， 你nǐ總算zǒngsuàn回來huílái了le等děng了le那么nàme久jiǔ， 你nǐ总算zǒngsuàn回来huílái了le
After waiting so long, you finally came back.

佛地魔fódìmó總算zǒngsuàn死sǐ了le佛地魔fódìmó总算zǒngsuàn死sǐ了le
Voldemort is finally dead.

我wǒ總算zǒngsuàn考kǎo過guòHSK5 了le我wǒ总算zǒngsuàn考kǎo过guòHSK5 了le
I finally passed the HSK Level 5 exam.

我wǒ總算zǒngsuàn寫xiě完wán了le我wǒ的de畢業bìyè論文lùnwén了le我wǒ总算zǒngsuàn写xiě完wán了le我wǒ的de毕业bìyè论文lùnwén了le
I finally finished writing my graduation thesis.

孩子háizi總算zǒngsuàn安靜ānjìng了le孩子háizi总算zǒngsuàn安静ānjìng了le
The kids have finally quieted down.

戰爭zhànzhēng總算zǒngsuàn結束jiéshù了le战争zhànzhēng总算zǒngsuàn结束jiéshù了le
The war is finally over.

Comparison

總总算 zǒngsuàn, 終於于 zhōngyú, and 到底 dàodǐ are all used to emphasize outcomes or resolutions, but they have distinct nuances and contexts in Chinese:

我wǒ總算zǒngsuàn考kǎo過guòHSK5 了le我wǒ总算zǒngsuàn考kǎo过guòHSK5 了le
I finally passed the HSK Level 5 exam.
(After some struggle.)

我wǒ終於zhōngyú考kǎo過guòHSK5 了le我wǒ终于zhōngyú考kǎo过guòHSK5 了le
I finally passed the HSK Level 5 exam.
(After years of effort.)

你nǐ到底dàodǐ考kǎo過guòHSK5 了le沒有méiyǒu？ 你nǐ到底dàodǐ考kǎo过guòHSK5 了le没有méiyǒu？
Did you pass HSK Level 5 or not?
(Express impatience or urgency for a clear answer.)

• “Finally” in Chinese 1 – 終於 zhōngyú (HSK 3)

• Express “Finally” with 到底 dàodǐ (HSK 3)