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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.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

到头reach the end
到dàoreach头tóuend
动宾Verb + object
来láitime

到 means reach, 头 means end, and 来 adds a sense of the coming result.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 頭; 头 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
頁頁yèhead
Sound part声符shēngfú
豆
豆dòu頭tóu
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 頭 shows 頁, meaning head, beside 豆 as a sound component; the simplified 头 is a later shorthand.

Open 头 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 來; 来 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 來 shows a wheat plant: a central ear, upward leaves, and downward stem and roots. The simplified 来 is a later shorthand.

Open 来 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Time (Abstract)

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