终于 (finally, at last)
At long last!
- You've waited and waited — and finally it happens.
- That sigh of relief has a word: finally终于 ("finally, at last").
- end终 is the finish line; finally终于 is the moment you cross it.
Practice
终于 suggests …
终于 = relief/joy after waiting. A neutral “in the end” is 最后.
Subject + finally终于 + … + (completed / change)了
- Put finally终于 before the predicate, and close with (completed / change)了.
you你finally终于arrived到了！
- you你finally终于to / arrive到(completed / change)了! = "You're finally here!" — the (completed / change)了 is not optional.
Practice
Complete: 你 ____ 到了! (You're finally here!)
终于 … 了 — 你终于到了!
Practice
Build: “I've finally finished the homework!”
Subject + 终于 + Verb + 了: 作业 + 终于 + 做完 + 了.
Watch out
Watch out
finally终于 carries relief / a welcome result, and it always needs (completed / change)了. For a flat, neutral "in the end," use final最后 instead.
Explore
Correct or broken?
终于 celebrates one long-awaited outcome finally happening.
Practice
终于 can stand alone like English “finally,” without 了.
终于 needs 了: 终于…了. It can't end a sentence bare.
Recap
Key idea
- Subject + finally终于 + Predicate + (completed / change)了 — finally, at last
- Implies a welcome outcome (relief, joy)
- The (completed / change)了 is required
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Adverbs.