There are 4 different words that can be translated into “finally” in Mandarin Chinese: 到底 dàodǐ, 最后 zuìhòu, 总算 zǒngsuàn and 终于 zhōngyú.
到底 dàodǐ
到底 dàodǐ is an adverb in Chinese that is used to emphasize a question. It indicate that the speaker is a little impatient or annoyed.
你到底在做什麼?你到底在做什么?
What on earth are you doing?
你到底要去還是不去?你到底要去还是不去?
Are you going or not!?
最後/最后 zuìhòu
最后 zuìhòu is generally considered an adverb or an adjective in Chinese, not a noun. It can be used as an attributive to modify another noun, which is similar to the usage of “the last” in English.
最後一次最后一次
The last time
最後一天最后一天
The last day
最后 zuìhòu is also considered the most neutral word among these four words. It can simply indicates that something happened last or in the end, without any connotation of whether it is positive or negative.
你先加蜂蜜,然後加水,攪一攪,最後放檸檬就完成了!你先加蜂蜜,然后加水,搅一搅,最后放柠檬就完成了!
You should add honey first, and then add some water, and mix it up. Last, you put a lemon slice. That’s it.
最後一個人到了最后一个人到了
The last person has arrived.
總算/总算 zǒngsuàn
总算 zǒngsuàn is an adverb in Chinese that implies that after consistent efforts, certain wishes have finally come true. It can be translated as “finally” or “at long last” in English. 总算 zǒngsuàn and 终于 zhōngyú are often interchangeable in usage, but 总算 zǒngsuàn usually emphasizes the long duration of time involved in expecting something to happen.
我工作了20年,總算可以買房子了我工作了20年,总算可以买房子了
I have worked for 20 years, and finally, I can afford to buy a house!
Use 终于 zhōngyú is also OK!)
我當中文老師的夢想總算實現了我当中文老师的夢想总算实现了
I finally realized my dream of becoming a Mandarin teacher.
(Use 终于 zhōngyú is also OK!)
終於/终于 zhōngyú
终于 zhōngyú is also an adverb in Chinese, which implies that after many changes or amidst some eager waiting, something has finally happened. It usually implies the difficulties or ups and downs of the process. Unlike 总算 zǒngsuàn, 终于 zhōngyú can be used to describe either desirable or undesirable outcomes.
40年的婚姻,我們終於還是離婚了40年的婚姻,我们终于还是离婚了
40 years of marriage. In the end, we still got divorced.
(You cannot use 总算 zǒngsuàn here.)
他終於來了他终于来了
He’s finally here!
(Use 总算 zǒngsuàn is also OK!)