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 zhège 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 first use 到 (dào) to indicate where you're going, then add another verb after that. This has the meaning of "going to the place to do something," and it's one case where the "arrive" translation doesn't really work anymore.

Subj. + 到 + Place + Verb Phrase

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 gè yuè wǒ yào dào Měiguó chūchāi. Next month I need to go to America on a business trip.

到 (dào) , 去 (qù) , and 走 (zǒu)

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