总算zǒngsuàn

Adverb 总算 (zǒngsuàn): At long last / Finally (with relief)

Meaning: At long last, finally (with a sigh of relief)

Pattern

总算 ("at long last / finally") indicates that after a long period of effort, difficulty, or anxious waiting, a desired outcome has finally been achieved.
It stands after the subject and before the predicate, and the sentence almost always ends with 了.
Compared with 终于: both mean "finally", but 总算 is more colloquial, strongly conveys a "sigh of relief" (庆幸/宽慰), and is used only for positive or welcome outcomes (or to mean "at least it's acceptable on the whole"), whereas 终于 is stylistically broader and can also describe neutral or even tragic endings.

1
经过半年的努力，他总算通过了HSK五级。
Jīngguò bàn nián de nǔlì, tā zǒngsuàn tōngguò le HSK wǔ jí.
After half a year of hard work, he finally passed HSK Level 5 at long last.
2
找了一个上午，我总算找到了那本书。
Zhǎo le yī gè shàngwǔ, wǒ zǒngsuàn zhǎodào le nà běn shū.
After searching all morning, I finally found that book.
3
下了三天的雨，今天总算晴了。
Xià le sān tiān de yǔ, jīntiān zǒngsuàn qíng le.
After raining for three days, today the sky has finally cleared up.

•总算 stands after the subject and usually pairs with 了, emphasizing a sigh of relief at a positive outcome.

⚠️ Common Mistakes:

•Placing 总算 before the subject and omitting 了 when describing a completed achievement (*总算他来 instead of 他总算来了).

•Using 总算 for a negative or tragic outcome where there is no sense of relief.

Combine Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading Practice, Listening, Hanzi Writing, and Mock Exams at HSK 5 to master all skills together.