“Finally” in Chinese 1 – zhōngyú

Grammar Point:
終於终于 zhōngyú is a commonly used Chinese adverb that expresses the meaning of “finally” or “at last.” It is used to indicate that something anticipated or expected has happened after a long wait, effort, or delay.

Structure

S + 終於于 + Verb or Verb Phrase + 了

It is often used with past tense verbs to describe something that happened after a period of time or difficulty. We use it to express relief or strong anticipation.

已經yǐjīng3 個ge月yuè沒méi下雨xiàyǔ， 今天jīntiān終於zhōngyú下雨xiàyǔ了le已经yǐjīng3 个ge月yuè没méi下雨xiàyǔ， 今天jīntiān终于zhōngyú下雨xiàyǔ了le
It hasn’t rained for 3 months, and it finally rained today. (relief)

我wǒ終於zhōngyú不用búyòng再zài準備zhǔnbèiHSK 考試kǎoshì了le我wǒ终于zhōngyú不用búyòng再zài准备zhǔnbèiHSK 考试kǎoshì了le
I finally don’t have to prepare for the HSK exam anymore. (definitely relief😂)

經過jīngguò6 個ge月yuè， 我wǒ終於zhōngyú減肥jiǎnféi成功chénggōng了le经过jīngguò6 个ge月yuè， 我wǒ终于zhōngyú减肥jiǎnféi成功chénggōng了le
After 6 months, I finally succeeded in losing weight. (anticipation)

你nǐ終於zhōngyú到dào了le， 我wǒ以為yǐwéi我們wǒmen趕不上gǎnbúshàng飛機fēijī了le你nǐ终于zhōngyú到dào了le， 我wǒ以为yǐwéi我们wǒmen赶不上gǎnbúshang飞机fēijī了le
You finally arrived; I thought we would miss the flight. (relief)

你們nǐmen終於zhōngyú要yào登記dēngjì結婚jiéhūn了le嗎ma？ 你们nǐmen终于zhōngyú要yào登记dēngjì结婚jiéhūn了le吗ma？
Are you guys finally going to register for marriage? (anticipation)

我wǒ找zhǎo了le好久hǎojiǔ， 終於zhōngyú找zhǎo到dào我wǒ滿意mǎnyì的de沙發shāfā了le我wǒ找zhǎo了le好久hǎojiǔ， 终于zhōngyú找zhǎo到dào我wǒ满意mǎnyì的de沙发shāfā了le
I searched for a long time and finally found the sofa I’m satisfied with. (relief + anticipation?? lol)

我們wǒmen網戀wǎngliàn2 年nián， 今天jīntiān終於zhōngyú可以kěyǐ見到jiàndào對方duìfāng了le我们wǒmen网恋wǎngliàn2 年nián， 今天jīntiān终于zhōngyú可以kěyǐ见到jiàndào对方duìfāng了le
We’ve been in an online relationship for 2 years, and today we can finally meet each other. (anticipation)

我wǒ網購wǎnggòu的de新xīn衣服yīfú終於zhōngyú到dào了le， 好想hǎoxiǎng快點kuàidiǎn回家huíjiā開箱kāixiāng我wǒ网购wǎnggòu的de新xīn衣服yīfu终于zhōngyú到dào了le， 好想hǎoxiǎng快点儿kuàidiǎnr回家huíjiā开箱kāixiāng
My new clothes that I bought online finally arrived; I can’t wait to get home and unbox them. (anticipation)

FYI
Ever heard of “開开箱文 kāixiāng wén” in Youtube videos? If you love internet shopping, this is a word you really need to know. 開开箱文 kāixiāng wén is a term in Chinese that translates to “unboxing review” or “unboxing article” in English. It refers to a type of content typically found on social media platforms, blogs, or online forums, where individuals share their experiences and impressions of unboxing a newly purchased product. 🎉📦
Another word that you should know is 業业配文 yèpèi wén. It is another interesting term in the world of content creation! In English, it’s often referred to as “sponsored content” or “brand collaboration.”
I often wonder how much money I can earn from sponsored content, but no one seems to ask me to write sponsored content… Well, maybe Chinese grammar websites don’t have opportunities for sponsored content either.😅

Common Mistakes

Using it as “the last step”

你nǐ回家huíjiā先xiān把bǎ牛奶niúnǎi放fàng冰箱bīngxiāng， 然後ránhòu燒水shāoshuǐ， 終於zhōngyú再zài去qù切qiē水果shuǐguǒ你nǐ回家huíjiā先xiān把bǎ牛奶niúnǎi放fàng冰箱bīngxiāng， 然后ránhòu烧水shāoshuǐ， 终于zhōngyú再zài去qù切qiē水果shuǐguǒ ❌
First, put the milk in the fridge when you get home, then boil some water, and the last, cut the fruits.

The word 終於终于 zhōngyú implies that an action is happening after a long period of time or difficulty. If you want to express the last step, you can use 最後最后 zuìhòu

Using it alone

先生xiānshēng： 我wǒ把bǎ碗wǎn洗xǐ好hǎo了le先生xiānshēng： 我wǒ把bǎ碗wǎn洗xǐ好hǎo了le
Husband: I’ve washed the dishes.

太太tàitai： 終於zhōngyú！ 太太tàitai： 终于zhōngyú！ ❌
Wife: Finally!

Unlike the English word “finally,” 終於终于 zhōngyú can never be used alone. If you really want to express finally in this situation, you need to say 你終於终于洗了啊 nǐ zhōngyú xǐ le a.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ I finally finished writing my graduation thesis.

我wǒ終於zhōngyú把bǎ畢業bìyè論文lùnwén寫xiě完wán了le我wǒ终于zhōngyú把bǎ毕业bìyè论文lùnwén写xiě完wán了le

✔️ I finally passed HSK3.

我wǒ終於zhōngyú通過tōngguòHSK3 了le我wǒ终于zhōngyú通过tōngguòHSK3 了le

✔️ I finally have time to travel to China.

我wǒ終於zhōngyú有yǒu時間shíjiān去qù中國Zhōngguó旅行lǚxíng了le我wǒ终于zhōngyú有yǒu时间shíjiān去qù中国Zhōngguó旅行lǚxíng了le

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

• “Finally” in Chinese – 總总算 zǒngsuàn (HSK 5)