最后
zuì hoù · HSK 1
last
🏁 最 (most) + 后 (behind/after) = most-behind = last, final
最 means 'most' (superlative marker) and 后 means 'behind' or 'after'. Together: the most-behind position, i.e. the final or last one. Same 后 appears in 以后 (after) and 然后 (then).
最 — top 冃 (hat/cover) + bottom 取 (take)
Originally a compound suggesting taking something even at risk, with 冃 (a covering, often confused with 日 sun) over 取 (to seize). Over time it shifted from 'to risk taking' to the superlative meaning 'most' or 'extremely', its modern use in Chinese.
后 — 厂 cliff + 一 + 口 mouth
Originally depicted a ruler or sovereign issuing commands, showing a figure with a mouth giving orders. It came to mean 'queen' or 'empress.' In modern simplified Chinese, 后 also absorbed the meaning 'behind/after' from the traditional character 後, so context decides which sense applies.