终究: The Outcome That Ultimately Prevails in Chinese
终究
终究 introduces the conclusion or outcome that prevails after other possibilities, delays, or objections are considered. It can mean after all in a judgment or eventually in a prediction. It normally precedes the decisive predicate. Unlike 终于, it need not celebrate a completed event and often carries reflective or cautionary evaluation.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Subject + 终究 + Final Judgment / Outcome
Read the structure
终究 introduces the conclusion or outcome that prevails after other possibilities, delays, or objections are considered. It can mean after all in a judgment or eventually in a prediction. It normally precedes the decisive predicate. Unlike 终于, it need not celebrate a completed event and often carries reflective or cautionary evaluation. Keep the model Subject + 终究 + Final Judgment / Outcome visible while you compare each sentence.
他终究是个孩子，你得耐心一点儿。
After all, he is still a child, so you must be patient.
Choose the right context
Return to a basic fact after competing considerations. Predict an eventual consequence despite delay or resistance. Give a reflective final judgment in formal narration or argument.
长期忽视这个问题，终究会付出代价。
Ignoring this problem for a long time will ultimately carry a price.
Respect the boundary
Do not place 终究 after the completed predicate. Do not use it merely to celebrate a long-awaited achievement. Do not attach an aspect particle to 终究.
他是个孩子终究。
(He is a child after all.)
Repair the pattern
终究 follows the final judgment: 终究 is a preverbal evaluative adverb and must precede 是个孩子. An aspect particle is attached to the evaluative adverb: 终究 is an adverb and cannot take aspect 了; it must precede the modal or predicate it evaluates.
他终究是个孩子。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
他终究是个孩子，你得耐心一点儿。
After all, he is still a child, so you must be patient.
他
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
终究是
终究
This part occupies the 终究 position in the model pattern.
个
Final Judgment / Outcome
This part occupies the Final Judgment / Outcome position in the model pattern.
孩子
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
，
终究
This part occupies the 终究 position in the model pattern.
你
Final Judgment / Outcome
This part occupies the Final Judgment / Outcome position in the model pattern.
得
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
耐心
终究
This part occupies the 终究 position in the model pattern.
一点
Final Judgment / Outcome
This part occupies the Final Judgment / Outcome position in the model pattern.
儿
Subject
This part occupies the Subject position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
他终究是个孩子，你得耐心一点儿。
After all, he is still a child, so you must be patient.
长期忽视这个问题，终究会付出代价。
Ignoring this problem for a long time will ultimately carry a price.
误会再深，真相终究会被发现。
However deep the misunderstanding, the truth will eventually be discovered.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Return to a basic fact after competing considerations.
- Predict an eventual consequence despite delay or resistance.
- Give a reflective final judgment in formal narration or argument.
Do not use it when
- Do not place 终究 after the completed predicate.
- Do not use it merely to celebrate a long-awaited achievement.
- Do not attach an aspect particle to 终究.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
他是个孩子终究。
他终究是个孩子。
终究 follows the final judgment
终究 is a preverbal evaluative adverb and must precede 是个孩子.
真相终究了被发现。
真相终究会被发现。
An aspect particle is attached to the evaluative adverb
终究 is an adverb and cannot take aspect 了; it must precede the modal or predicate it evaluates.
他是个孩子终究。
终究 is a preverbal evaluative adverb and must precede 是个孩子.
真相终究了被发现。
终究 is an adverb and cannot take aspect 了; it must precede the modal or predicate it evaluates.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 终究.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 终究. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
终究: The Outcome That Ultimately Prevails Questions
How is 终究 different from 终于?
终究 weighs alternatives and states what ultimately prevails. 终于 foregrounds the completion of a delayed or awaited event.
Can 终究 refer to the future?
Yes. It often predicts a consequence believed to be unavoidable in the long run.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, combined Levels 7–9 item 【七—九047】, 语气副词：终究 (printed p. 241; PDF page 247)
Supports placement in the official combined Levels 7-9 band; the exact site level remains an internal difficulty label; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 6, §§6.1 and 6.4.1, evaluative and relative-time adverbs, pages 141 and 144; full text body opened
Places relative-time and evaluative adverbs before the predicate and distinguishes eventual framing from simple completion marking.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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时间Time Word Placement
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