Chinese–EnglishWith examples

到头来

dào tóu lái · dao tou lai

Traditional 到頭來

HSK 7–9

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. in the end
  2. finally
  3. as a result
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Where to go this weekend

  1. Liangliang

    周末(zhōumò)去(qù)哪儿(nǎr)玩(wán)？爬山(páshān)还是(háishi)海边(hǎibiān)？

    Where shall we go this weekend? Climb a hill or go to the seaside?

  2. Dengdeng

    爬山(páshān)太(tài)累(lèi)，海边(hǎibiān)太(tài)远(yuǎn)。

    Climbing is too tiring and the seaside is too far.

  3. Liangliang

    公园(gōngyuán)上周(shàngzhōu)去(qù)过(guò)了(le)，博物馆(bówùguǎn)今天(jīntiān)不(bù)开门(kāimén)。

    We went to the park last week, and the museum is closed today.

  4. Dengdeng

    商量(shāngliang)了(le)一小时(yīxiǎoshí)，到头来(dàotóulái)哪儿也没定(nǎryěméidìng)！

    We talked for an hour, and in the end we settled on nowhere!

  5. Liangliang

    是啊(shìa)，到头来(dàotóulái)还是(háishi)在家(zàijiā)看(kàn)电影(diànyǐng)吧(ba)。

    Yes. In the end, let us just watch a movie at home.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

他(tā)忙(máng)了(le)一(yì)整(zhěng)天(tiān)，到(dào)头(tóu)来(lái)什(shén)么(me)也(yě)没(méi)做(zuò)成(chéng)。

He was busy all day, but in the end he accomplished nothing.

02

我(wǒ)们(men)找(zhǎo)了(le)半(bàn)天(tiān)，到(dào)头(tóu)来(lái)还(hái)是(shì)走(zǒu)错(cuò)了(le)路(lù)。

We searched for a long time, but in the end we still took the wrong road.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

Browse all wordsExplore words in context