到头来

到頭來

dàotóulái

adverb HSK 7-9 #9,575

Meanings

1 in the end
2 after all is said and done
3 when all is said and done

Characters

to arrive; to reach

Examples

他努力了半天，到头来还是失败了。

Tā nǔlì le bàntiān, dàotóulái háishi shībài le.

He worked hard for so long, but in the end he still failed.

到头来，一切都是白费。

Dàotóulái, yīqiè dōu shì báifèi.

In the end, it was all for nothing.

Tips

usage

到头来 often carries a sense of disappointment or irony — things didn't turn out as hoped despite effort. It's more emotional than neutral 最终.

Stroke Order

到 dào

头 tóu

来 lái