到头来 (dào tóu lái) — in the end (with a connotation of disappointing or unexpected outcome after much time or effort)
Definition
到头来 stresses that despite all the effort or time invested, the end result is disappointing or futile — more negative than 终于 ('finally') or 终究 ('eventually').
adverb
in the end (with a connotation of disappointing or unexpected outcome after much time or effort)
Examples
- ，到头来。Tā huā le hěn duō shí jiān xué xí, dào tóu lái hái shì méi tōng guò kǎo shì.He spent a lot of time studying, but in the end still didn't pass the exam.
- ，到头来。Tā men jì huà le hěn jiǔ, dào tóu lái què yīn wèi tiān qì qǔ xiāo le xíng chéng.They planned for a long time, but in the end cancelled the trip because of the weather.
- ，到头来。Gōng sī tóu rù le dà liàng zī jīn, dào tóu lái fā xiàn zhè ge xiàng mù háo wú yì yì.The company invested a lot of money, but in the end found that this project was completely meaningless.
Appears in
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