Using "dao" to mean "to go to"

A simple and direct way to indicate that you or someone is going to a specific place or has arrived at a specific place is to use the verb 到 (dào).

Place

Structure

The verb 到 (dào) is used to talk about going to places.

Subj. + 到 + Place

Examples

Sometimes it's straightforward to think of 到 (dào) as simply meaning "to arrive." In some examples this doesn't work as well, though, and you might need to expand your understanding of exactly what 到 (dào) means.

• 他们 已经 到 酒吧 了。 Tāmen yǐjīng dào jiǔbā le. They have already arrived at the bar.
• 我 刚 到 家。 Wǒ gāng dào jiā. I just got home.
• 你 到 机场 了 吗？ Nǐ dào jīchǎng le ma? Have you arrived at the airport?
• 我们 先 到 北京 ， 然后 到 香港。 Wǒmen xiān dào Běijīng, ránhòu dào Xiānggǎng. First we'll arrive in Beijing, then in Hong Kong.
• 请 问 这 个 地铁 到 火车站 吗 ？ Qǐng wèn zhè ge dìtiě dào huǒchēzhàn ma? Excuse me, does this subway go to the train station?

Place and action

Structure

If you are going to a place to do something else, you can add 去 (qù) and the verb. This has the meaning of "going to the place to do something."

Subj. + 到 + Place (+ 去) + Action

Examples

• 明天 我 要 到 南京 路 买 衣服。 Míngtiān wǒ yào dào Nánjīng lù mǎi yīfu. Tomorrow I'll go to Nanjing Road to buy clothes.
• 你们 晚上 到 哪儿 吃饭 啊？Nǐmen wǎnshang dào nǎr chīfàn a? Where will you all go to eat food this evening?
• 我 跟 朋友 经常 到 KTV 唱歌 。 Wǒ gēn péngyou jīngcháng dào KTV chànggē. I often go to Karaoke to sing songs with friends.
• 今年 春节 我 要 到 女朋友 家 见 她 的 父母 。 Jīnnián Chūnjié wǒ yào dào nǚpéngyou jiā jiàn tā de fùmǔ. This Spring Festival I am going to my girlfriend's house to meet her parents.
• 下 个 月 我 要 到 美国 出差。 Xià ge yuè wǒ yào dào Měiguó chūchāi. Next month I need to go to America on a business trip.

到, 去, and 走

Sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly which word to use in Chinese to mean "go." 到 (dào) is used when you talk about arriving at a place, emphasizing the destination. 去 (qù) is used when you are going to a place. The exact meaning is "to go," and it emphasizes getting somewhere. 走 (zǒu) is used when talking about "leaving." The emphasis is on getting away from a particular place.

See also

• Using "zai" with verbs
• Complements with "dao", "gei" and "zai"
• "From… To…" with "cong… dao…"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 200)
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (p. 72) →buy