Expressing "finally" with "zhongyu"

终于 (zhōngyú) expresses that something has finally happened after a long wait. Usually the speaker is looking forward to what is happening at long last, and thus 终于 (zhōngyú) typically carries a sense of joy or relief.

Structure

Unlike the English word "finally," 终于 (zhōngyú) can never be used alone. It also can’t be put in front of the subject or at the end of the sentence. 终于 (zhōngyú) needs to be used with 了 to express that the action is completed.

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!

See also

• Comparing "zongsuan" and “zhongyu"