終 meaning and stroke order
End; finally, in the end
How to write 終, stroke by stroke
11 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
Meaning of 終
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- end
- finish
How 終 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Thread.
糹 gives the meaning and 冬 hints at the sound.
Radical: 糹 (silk), shared by 126 characters on this site.
How to remember 終
The silk radical 糹 (thread) sits next to 冬 (dōng, winter), which gives the sound. Picture the end of a thread wound up at the end of the year in winter, and you have 終 (zhōng), the end.
終 is the traditional form of 终, and it rarely stands alone in modern speech. It appears in words like 終於 (zhōngyú, finally), 始終 (shǐzhōng, all along) and 終點 (zhōngdiǎn, end point). Example: 他終於來了。(Tā zhōngyú lái le.) He finally came.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 終 (zhōng) with 冬 (dōng, winter) because they share the same right side, so remember the thread radical changes both meaning and sound. Also do not confuse 終 with 鐘 (zhōng, clock or bell), which sounds the same but uses the metal radical.
Common words with 終
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 終於 | zhōngyú | at last; in the end | HSK 3 |
| 始終 | shǐzhōng | from beginning to end; all along | HSK 3 |
| 終止 | zhōngzhǐ | to stop; to terminate | HSK 5 |
| 終身 | zhōngshēn | lifelong; all one's life | HSK 5 |
| 終點 | zhōngdiǎn | the end; end point | HSK 5 |
| 最終 | zuìzhōng | final; ultimate | HSK 6 |
| 終結 | zhōngjié | end; conclusion; to come to an end; to terminate (sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 終生 | zhōngshēng | throughout one's life; lifetime; lifelong | HSK 7-9 |
| 終究 | zhōngjiū | in the end; after all; eventually | HSK 7-9 |
| 自始至終 | zìshǐ-zhìzhōng | from start to finish (idiom) | HSK 7-9 |
| 年終 | niánzhōng | end of the year | HSK 7-9 |
| 終極 | zhōngjí | ultimate; final | |
| 劇終 | jùzhōng | The End (appearing at the end of a movie etc) | |
| 臨終 | línzhōng | approaching death; on one's deathbed |
Questions about 終
How many strokes are in 終?
終 is written with 11 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 終 mean?
終 (zhōng) means end; finally, in the end. A common word with it is 终于 (zhōngyú), meaning "at last; in the end".
How do you pronounce 終?
終 is pronounced zhōng, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 終?
The radical of 終 is 糹, which carries the idea of "silk". Dictionaries list 終 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 終?
終 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 终, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 終於 and 最終?
終於 (zhōngyú) is an adverb meaning something finally happened after waiting or effort, often with relief. 最終 (zuìzhōng) means final or ultimately and focuses on the last result, as in 最終結果 (zuìzhōng jiéguǒ, final result).
Are 終身 and 終生 interchangeable?
Both mean lifelong and often overlap. 終身 is common in fixed formal terms like 終身教授 (zhōngshēn jiàoshòu, tenured professor), while 終生 often sounds more emotional, as in 終生難忘 (zhōngshēng nánwàng, unforgettable for life).