终于

终于 (zhōngyú) is an adverb meaning 'finally,' 'at last,' or 'in the end (after a long process).' It almost always carries emotional color — relief, satisfaction, or release after waiting, working hard, or struggling. The structure is simple: 终于 + verb phrase, usually with 了 at the end to mark completion: 我终于到了 ('I finally arrived'). Two things differ from English 'finally.'

First, 终于 cannot be used for simple sequencing (first … then … finally); for that, use 最后 (zuìhòu). 'First we ate, then we walked, finally we went home' uses 最后, not 终于. Second, 终于 implies the result is welcome or hard-won; if you say 他终于来了, you've been waiting and are relieved. For the neutral 'eventually,' 最终 (zuìzhōng) is more formal and neutral.