AdverbsHSK 4
Expressing "finally" with 终于
终于 (zhōngyú) means "finally" and is used to emphasize that a long-awaited action has at last been completed. It must be followed by 了 to indicate the action's completion, and it always appears directly before the verb or adjective phrase. A common mistake is placing 终于 before the subject or at the end of the sentence, which is incorrect.
Structure
Subj. + 终于 + Verb/Adj. + 了
The predicate can be a verb or an adjective, and 了 is required to mark the completion.
Examples
- 你终于到了！Nǐ zhōngyú dào le !You've finally arrived!
- 我们终于见面了！Wǒmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le !We're finally meeting each other!
- 你们终于明白了。Nǐmen zhōngyú míngbai le .You've finally understood.
- 飞机终于起飞了！Fēijī zhōngyú qǐfēi le !The plane is finally taking off!
- 这个愿望终于实现了！Zhège yuànwàng zhōngyú shíxiàn le !This dream has finally come true!