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总算 vs 终于 (finally)
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At long last
- After three failed attempts, your cousin has finally passed her driving test.
- she / her她to check考(completed / change)了fourth四次，at last总算to pass through通过(completed / change)了！ — "She took it four times and finally passed!"
finally终于 = finally, after a long process
- finally终于 + verb (+ (completed / change)了) = at last, after waiting or effort; the result can be good or bad: he / him他finally终于came来(completed / change)了, he / him他finally终于to fall ill病倒(completed / change)了.
- Neutral in tone; common in narration and writing.
waited等了two两个hours小时，the bus车finally终于came来了。
Build: “After two hours, the bus finally came.”
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Wait, then 终于 + result.
at last总算 = finally (with relief)
- at last总算 also means "finally", with relief or satisfaction that a wanted result arrived: at last总算home到家(completed / change)了！
- It can also mean "more or less, considered as": 这次考得at last总算still / also还can / may可以 — "This time the result was at least OK."
at last总算home到家了！
With relief: “Phew, I'm finally home!” ____到家了！
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总算 adds relief.
Bad outcomes take finally终于
- at last总算 is for welcome results; for an unwelcome one, use finally终于: he / him他finally终于累病(completed / change)了, not he / him他at last总算累病(completed / change)了.
- Both go after the subject, before the verb.
“After a month of overwork he finally fell ill.” Which fits?
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An unwelcome outcome takes 终于.
Side by side
- the rain雨finally终于stop停(completed / change)了。 — "The rain finally stopped" (neutral report).
- the rain雨at last总算stop停(completed / change)了！ — "Thank goodness, the rain has finally stopped!" (relief).
the rain雨at last总算stop停了。
雨总算停了 sounds relieved.
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总算 expresses relief at a welcome result.
Recap
- finally终于 = finally (neutral, good or bad outcomes); at last总算 = finally, with relief (welcome outcomes) / at least.
- Unwelcome results: finally终于 only.
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar auxiliary words.
After three failed attempts, your cousin has finally passed her driving test. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.