总算 vs 终于: what is the difference?
Both mean "finally". 总算 adds a feeling of relief after trouble and is more spoken: 车总算来了。 终于 is neutral and fits any long-awaited result, including formal ones.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 总算 | zǒng suàn | Means "at last", with relief after a long wait or effort. | subject + 总算 + verb + 了 |
| 终于 | zhōng yú | Means 'finally', and is neutral enough for any long-awaited result, formal ones included. | Subject + 终于 + Verb + 了 |
总算 (zǒng suàn)
Means "at last", with relief after a long wait or effort.
Structure: subject + 总算 + verb + 了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 找了一个小时，我总算找到了停车的地方。 | Zhǎo le yí gè xiǎo shí, wǒ zǒng suàn zhǎo dào le tíng chē de dì fāng. | After an hour of searching, I finally found a place to park. |
| 作业总算写完了，可以休息一下了。 | Zuò yè zǒng suàn xiě wán le, kě yǐ xiū xī yí xià le. | The homework is finally done, so I can take a break. |
| 雨下了一个星期，今天总算停了。 | Yǔ xià le yí gè xīng qī, jīn tiān zǒng suàn tíng le. | It rained for a week, and today it has finally stopped. |
Not: 我明天总算去北京。 总算 speaks of something that has come after a wait. It does not fit a plain future plan.
终于 (zhōng yú)
Means 'finally', and is neutral enough for any long-awaited result, formal ones included.
Structure: Subject + 终于 + Verb + 了
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 经过三年的努力，他终于拿到了学位。 | Jīng guò sān nián de nǔ lì, tā zhōng yú ná dào le xué wèi. | After three years of work, he finally got his degree. |
| 火车终于到站了。 | Huǒ chē zhōng yú dào zhàn le. | The train finally pulled into the station. |
| 我们终于找到了那家小店。 | Wǒ men zhōng yú zhǎo dào le nà jiā xiǎo diàn. | We finally found that little shop. |
Not: 我终于明天去北京。 终于 reports something that has come about. Say 我明天终于要去北京了。
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Modal Adverbs: 毕竟、居然、明明、总算 (HSK 5) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 从而 vs 因此 · 从…来看 vs 在…看来 · 大都 vs 都 · 跟…相比 vs 跟…一样 · 过于 vs 太 · 看不得 vs 看不懂 · 累坏了 vs 累得不得了 · 凭 vs 依据 · 起来 vs 下去 · 仍旧 vs 依旧 · 为了 vs 为的是 · 有 vs 有着 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 总算 and 终于?
Both mean "finally". 总算 adds a feeling of relief after trouble and is more spoken: 车总算来了。 终于 is neutral and fits any long-awaited result, including formal ones.
GraphChinese drills each of these patterns and schedules the review that keeps it. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
Start at your true level