HSK 7
终究
zhōng jiū
终究 (zhōngjiū) – after all, in the end
Explanation
'终究' (zhōngjiū) is a mood adverb (a word that expresses the attitude or nuance of a sentence) meaning 'after all, in the end, sooner or later', emphasizing an inevitable outcome no matter what happens along the way.
subject (the person/thing at the head of the sentence) + 终究 (zhōngjiū) + 是/会... + inevitable outcome (终究是个孩子 = is a child after all; 终究会出问题 = sooner or later a problem will arise).
when affirming something inevitable whose essence cannot be changed; it leans toward written language and a calm, summarizing tone.
'终究' emphasizes inevitability rooted in essence/logic; '终于' (zhōngyú) merely expresses 'finally' after waiting (usually a good thing, with a specific point in time). Do not replace '终究' with '终于' in a sentence stating essence.
using '终于' instead of '终究' when the meaning is 'the same in the end no matter what'; and '终究' stands before the predicate (the part stating the action/quality), not at the end of the sentence.
Examples
After all, he is still a child; you have to be a bit more patient.
If you are all so irresponsible about your work, sooner or later something will go wrong.
Practice
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Learn “终究” effectively
The grammar point “终究” (终究 (zhōngjiū) – after all, in the end) is one of the key structures at HSK 7. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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