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最终 (zuì zhōng) — final, ultimate (used as a noun meaning 'the end' or attributively to mean 'final')

Definition

Means 'final, ultimate' — used as a noun for the end result or as an adjective before a noun (最终决定 'final decision'). More formal and written than 最后, which is the everyday word for 'the last / in the end'.

noun
finalultimate (used as a noun meaning 'the end' or attributively to mean 'final')

Examples

  • 最终。
    zuì zhōng De shèng lì shǔ yú wǒ men.
    The final victory belongs to us.
  • 最终。
    Tā zuì zhōng xuǎn zé le qù běi jīng gōng zuò.
    He finally chose to go work in Beijing.
  • 最终。
    Wǒ men yí dìng yào jiān chí dào zuì zhōng.
    We must persist until the end.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

最zuìmost
终zhōngend

最 means most and 终 means end, so the word points to the final end.

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
取
取qǔ最zuì
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape pairs 取, which gives the sound, with a roof-like top from 宀; marks above were later added to separate the “most” meaning.

Open 最 →

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 終; 终 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
冬
冬dōng終zhōng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 終 pairs 糸 (a cord) with 冬 as a sound part; the simplified 终 is a later shorthand. An older form showed a knot at the end of a cord.

Open 终 →
Appears in
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