ELONIO
Log inSign up

wǒmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le.

我们wǒmen　终于zhōngyú　见面jiànmiàn　了le。wǒmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le.
We finally met.
FromLesson 10inHardcore Chinese

Questions & Answers about wǒmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le.

What does the sentence-final 了 do here? Is it just past tense?
It isn’t a simple “past tense.” Sentence-final 了 marks a new situation or change of state: “now it has finally happened.” With 终于, it signals culmination. So 我们终于见面了 ≈ “We’ve finally met (now).” It often carries an exclamatory feel.
Why use 见面 instead of 见?
  • 见面 means “to meet (each other)” and is inherently mutual/intransitive.
    Example: 我们见面了。
  • 见/见到 is “to see/meet (someone)” and takes a direct object.
    Example: 我见到他了。 (“I saw/met him.”)
Can 见面 take a direct object like “meet him”?

Not directly. Use a preposition to mark the other party:

  • 我跟/和他见面了。
  • Don’t say: 我见面他 (unnatural).
Is 见面 a separable verb? What patterns can it take?

Yes (it’s a 离合词), so you can insert aspect markers, numbers, and classifiers between 见 and 面:

  • Aspect: 见了面, 见过面
  • Frequency: 见过几次面
  • “One meet-up”: 见个面, 见了一面
    All are natural. Avoid odd insertions like 见到了面 unless you’re sure of the context.
Where should 终于 go? Can it start the sentence?

终于 is an adverb placed before the verb phrase:

  • 我们终于见面了。
    It can also start the sentence for emphasis (more written/dramatic):
  • 终于，我们见面了。
    It does not go after the verb.
How is 终于 different from 最后 and 总算?
  • 终于: “finally” after expectation/wait; neutral in polarity (good or bad results).
    Example: 他终于来了/失败了。
  • 最后: “in the end/lastly,” sequence-focused, not necessarily about expectation.
  • 总算/可算(是): “at long last, with relief,” typically used for a desirable result.
    Example: 我们总算见面了。
Can I omit 了? What changes?
  • 我们终于见面了。 = “We’ve finally met (now).”
  • 我们终于见面。 sounds incomplete or like a plan/slogan. If you mean a planned future meeting, say: 我们终于要见面了 or 我们明天终于见面 (colloquial headline style). Generally, keep 了 here.
How do I say “We finally meet again”?
  • 我们终于又见面了。
  • Without 终于 (more neutral): 我们又见面了。
How do I express “We’re (about) to finally meet”?

Use “about to” markers + 了:

  • 我们终于要见面了。
  • 我们马上/就要/快要见面了。
How do I include time and place?

Time and place typically go before the verb phrase:

  • 我们昨天终于在北京见面了。
  • 昨天我们终于见面了。
  • 我们终于在公司见面了。
How do I negate this idea (haven’t met / never met / didn’t end up meeting)?
  • Still haven’t met yet: 我们还没见面(呢)。
  • Have never met (experience): 我们没见过面。
  • Didn’t end up meeting (failed attempt): 我们最后没见上。 / 我们最终没见成。
What’s the pronunciation and tones?
  • 我们 wǒmen (wǒ = 3rd tone; men = neutral)
  • 终于 zhōngyú (zhōng = 1st, yú = 2nd)
  • 见面 jiànmiàn (both 4th)
  • 了 le (neutral tone)
Is an exclamation mark natural? Can I add a particle?

Yes, very natural: 我们终于见面了！
For extra warmth/emotion: 我们终于见面了啊！ (colloquial; you may also see 啦 in informal writing).

What’s the difference between 我们终于见面了 and 我终于见到你了?
  • 我们终于见面了 is mutual and inclusive (“we have met each other”).
  • 我终于见到你了 centers on the speaker successfully seeing the other person. Both are common; choose based on focus.
Could I say 咱们 instead of 我们?

Yes. 咱们 explicitly includes the listener (“we/us together”), common in northern speech:

  • 咱们终于见面了。
    我们 can be inclusive or exclusive depending on context, but here it’s usually inclusive.
Are there more formal or literary alternatives to 见面?
  • Formal: 会面 (e.g., 我们终于会面了; 我们与他会面).
  • Literary/poetic: 相见 (e.g., 我们终于相见了).
  • With resultative flavor: 见上(了) (managed to meet): 我们终于见上了。
What are some natural replies to this sentence?
  • 是啊！ / 可不是嘛！ (“Yeah!” / “Exactly!”)
  • 等这一天等久了！
  • 总算见到你了！
  • 见到你真高兴！
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
Your avatar
“How do tones work in Chinese?”
Mandarin Chinese has four main tones plus a neutral tone. The same syllable can mean completely different things depending on the tone — for example, "mā" (mother), "má" (hemp), "mǎ" (horse), and "mà" (scold). Mastering tones is essential for being understood.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Chinese

Master Chinese — from wǒmen zhōngyú jiànmiàn le to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Chinese→