最后 meaning in English

zuìhòu

final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end

HSK 1nounTraditional 最後18 strokes

Meaning of 最后

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

zuìhòu

final; last; ultimate
finally; in the end

How to use 最后

最后 can describe the last item in a series, as in 最后一天 (the last day), or it can start a sentence to mean "finally" or "in the end." Example: 我们最后去了北京。(Wǒmen zuìhòu qù le Běijīng.) In the end, we went to Beijing.

最 (zuì) means "most" and 后 (hòu) means "behind" or "after," so 最后 is the "most after" point, the very last one. Picture a line of people and point to whoever stands furthest behind.

Common mistake: Learners often mix up 最后 (zuìhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu). 然后 means "then, next" and links steps in order. 最后 marks only the final step or the outcome.

最后 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

我wǒ希xī望wàng最zuì后hòu一yī切qiè都dōu好hǎo。

I hope everything will be fine in the end.

周zhōu日rì是shì一yī周zhōu的de最zuì后hòu一yī天tiān。

Sunday is the last day of the week.

你nǐ能néng记jì起qǐ来lái的de最zuì后hòu一yī件jiàn事shì是shì什shén么me？

What's the last thing you remember?

这zhè是shì我wǒ最zuì后hòu一yī次cì让ràng你nǐ为wèi我wǒ做zuò点diǎn事shì了le。

This is the last time I'll ask you to do anything for me.

最zuì后hòu笑xiào的de人rén，才cái是shì笑xiào得de最zuì得dé意yì的de人rén。

He laughs best who laughs last.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

最 zuì · to the highest degree · 12 strokes

后 hòu · back · 6 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 最后.

最好	zuìhǎo	best; had better ...; it would be best to ...
后天	hòutiān	the day after tomorrow; life after birth (the period in which one develops through experie
后边	hòubian	the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back
然后	ránhòu	then; after that; afterwards
以后	yǐhòu	after; later
最近	zuìjìn	recently; soon
后来	hòulái	afterwards; later; newly arrived
今后	jīnhòu	hereafter; henceforth
后面	hòumiàn	the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back
背后	bèihòu	behind; at the back
后果	hòuguǒ	consequences; aftermath
落后	luòhòu	to fall behind; to lag (in technology etc)

Questions about 最后

What does 最后 mean?

最后 (zuìhòu) means "final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end" and is used as a noun.

How do you write 最后?

最后 is made of 2 characters: 最 (12 strokes), 后 (6 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.

Is 最后 an HSK word?

Yes. 最后 is on the HSK 1 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 最后 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 最后 is written 最後.

What is the difference between 最后 and 后来?

后来 (hòulái) means "later on, afterwards" and refers to past events that came after something else. 最后 stresses the final point or outcome, and it can also describe the last item, as in 最后一个 (the last one).

Can 最后 go before a noun?

Yes. It usually takes a measure word, as in 最后一个问题 (zuìhòu yí ge wèntí), the last question. You can also add 的: 最后的机会 (zuìhòu de jīhuì), the last chance.