终 (zhōng) - end & finish

终Tone 1

zhōng ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 纟

志

终 · zhōng

end;

finish;

conclusion;

death;

eventually;

throughout;

whole process

endfinishconclusion

Usage highlights

finallyendconclusionthroughoutfrom beginning to endlife and death

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 始— beginning; start
  • 初— initial; first
  • 开头— beginning; start

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The movie has ended (电影终于结束了).
  • He eventually succeeded (他终于成功了).
  • We should see things through from beginning to end (我们应该有始有终).
  • Life and death are natural phenomena (生死有命，终始有时).

Collocations

  • finally(终于)
  • end(终点)
  • conclusion(终结)
  • throughout(始终)
  • from beginning to end(自始至终)
  • life and death(终始)

Idioms

  • From start to finish(自始至终)
  • Carry through to the end(贯彻始终)
  • Begin well and end well(善始善终)
  • No feast lasts forever(天下无不散之筵席，终须一别)
  • The day will eventually come(终有之日)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Chinese philosophy, '终' represents completion and the natural conclusion of cycles, often paired with '始' (beginning) to express the continuum of existence.
  • Used in traditional contexts to refer to the end of life, reflecting the acceptance of natural cycles in Confucian and Daoist thought.
  • Appears in historical texts discussing the rise and fall of dynasties, emphasizing that all things must come to an end.

FAQ