终于 zhōng yú
“at last; in the end; finally”
adverbHSK 3 · 2021 list level 3Traditional 終於
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
终于 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 983: 终于 zhōngyú — Level 3; official annotation 3 (副). PDF page 104
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 终于
终于 means "finally" or "at last" and is used when something happens after a long wait, effort, or delay. It is an adverb and usually comes after the subject and before the verb, often with 了 at the end of the sentence.
例句Example sentences
- 等了两个小时，车终于来了。děng le liǎng gè xiǎo shí, chē zhōng yú lái le.After waiting two hours, the bus finally came.
- 我终于找到了我的钥匙。wǒ zhōng yú zhǎo dào le wǒ de yào shi.I finally found my keys.
- 他学习很努力，终于通过了考试。tā xué xí hěn nǔ lì, zhōng yú tōng guò le kǎo shì.He studied hard and finally passed the exam.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗他终于了来。
✓他终于来了。
终于 is an adverb and must come before the verb; 了 comes after the verb, not after 终于.
-
✗我很终于明白了。
✓我终于明白了。
终于 is an adverb, not an adjective, so it cannot be used with 很 like a describing word.
易混词Easily confused
终于vs最后
最后 means "finally/lastly" in a sequence or at the end of something; 终于 stresses a long-awaited result and usually goes before the verb with 了.