Do you know the difference between 最后 (zuìhòu) and 终于 (zhōngyú)?

Both words mean “finally/in the end”, but they’re used differently. Let’s master them!

Difference between 最后 (zuìhòu) and 终于 (zhōngyú)

Use ”最后 zuìhòu” when you describe a sequence of events, to indicate that one event was THE LAST to happen:

🔷下课以后我先去吃午饭，然后去买水果，最后去咖啡厅做作业。
🔷Xiàkè yǐhòu wǒ xiān qù chī wǔfàn, ránhòu qù mǎi shuǐguǒ, zuìhòu qù kāfēi tīng zuò zuo yè.
🔷 After classes I had lunch, then went to buy some fruit, and then went to a cafe to do my homework.

Use ”终于 zhōngyú” to stress that something happened “AT LONG LAST”:

🔷在妈妈的帮助下，他终于写完了作业。
🔷Zài māmā de bāngzhù xià, tā zhōngyú xiě wánliǎo zuòyè.
🔷With his mother’s help, he finally finished his homework.

Practice

To practice, fill in the gaps:

刚开始他不同意，但是 1️⃣ 他 2️⃣ 同意了父母的要求。
Gāng kāishǐ tā bù tóngyì, dànshì 1️⃣ tā 2️⃣ tóngyì le fùmǔ de yāoqiú.

What words would you use in 1️⃣ and 2️⃣? And how would you translate this sentence?