Expressing "finally" with "zhongyu"

终于(zhōngyú) 表示经过很长时间的等待最后实现了愿望，通常都是说话人期待发生的事情，含喜悦、满意的感情色彩。终于(zhōngyú) expresses realization of a desire after waiting for a long time. Usually the speaker is looking forward to what’s going to happen. 终于(zhōngyú) also carries a feeling of joy and satisfaction.

Structure

跟英文的"finally"不一样的是，终于(zhōngyú) 不能单独使用，也不能放在主语前面或者句子的最后。而且，它必须要跟“了“连用，表示事情已经发生了。

Subj. + 终于 + Predicate + 了

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 你 终于 到 了 ！Nǐ zhōngyú dào le!You finally arrived!
• 咱们 终于 见面 了 ！Zánmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le!We finally met each other!
• 你们 终于 明白 了 。Nǐmen zhōngyú míngbai le.You finally understood.
• 作业 终于 做 完 了 ！Zuòyè zhōngyú zuò wán le!I finally finished my homework!
• 飞机 终于 起飞 了 ！Fēijī zhōngyú qǐfēi le!The plane is finally taking off!
• 你们 终于 决定 了 。Nǐmen zhōngyú juédìng le.You finally made your decision.
• 饭 终于 做 好 了 。我 快 饿 死了 。Fàn zhōngyú zuò hǎo le. Wǒ kuài è sǐ le.Dinner is finally ready. I'm starving.
• 这个 愿望 终于 实现 了 ！Zhège yuànwàng zhōngyú shíxiàn le!This dream finally came true!
• 我们 找 了 两 个 多 小时 ，终于 找到 了 那 家 店 。Wǒmen zhǎo le liǎng gè duō xiǎoshí, zhōngyú zhǎodào le nà jiā diàn.We'd been looking for that shop for more than two hours. We finally found it.
• 这些 问题 终于 解决 了 。我们 应该 庆祝 一下 。Zhèxiē wèntí zhōngyú jiějué le. Wǒmen yīnggāi qìngzhù yīxià.These problems are finally resolved. We should celebrate it.

See also

• Comparing "zongsuan" and “zhongyu"