Difference between revisions of "Expressing "until" with "dao""
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*我们 一直 等 <strong>到</strong> <em>天黑</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen yīzhí děng <strong>dào</strong> <em> tiānhēi</em>.</span><span class="trans">We waited until it was getting dark.</span> | *我们 一直 等 <strong>到</strong> <em>天黑</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen yīzhí děng <strong>dào</strong> <em> tiānhēi</em>.</span><span class="trans">We waited until it was getting dark.</span> | ||
*他们 想 在 这里 住 <strong>到</strong> <em>春天</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen xiǎng zài zhèlǐ zhù <strong>dào</strong> <em> chūntiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">They want to live here until it's spring.</span> | *他们 想 在 这里 住 <strong>到</strong> <em>春天</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tāmen xiǎng zài zhèlǐ zhù <strong>dào</strong> <em> chūntiān</em>.</span><span class="trans">They want to live here until it's spring.</span> | ||
| − | *你们 要 玩 <strong>到</strong> <em>什么 时候</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào wán <strong>dào</strong> <em> shénme shíhou</em>? </span><span class="trans">When will you be done playing?</span> | + | *你们 要 玩 <strong>到</strong> <em>什么 时候</em> ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào wán <strong>dào</strong> <em> shénme shíhou</em>?</span><span class="trans">When will you be done playing?</span> |
*爸爸 看电视 看 <strong>到</strong> <em>半夜</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba kàn diànshì <strong>dào</strong> <em>bànyè</em>.</span><span class="trans">My dad watched TV until midnight.</span> | *爸爸 看电视 看 <strong>到</strong> <em>半夜</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Bàba kàn diànshì <strong>dào</strong> <em>bànyè</em>.</span><span class="trans">My dad watched TV until midnight.</span> | ||
*我们 吃 火锅 吃 <strong>到</strong> <em>火锅店 关门</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī <strong>dào</strong> <em>huǒguōdiàn guānmén</em>.</span><span class="trans">We ate hotpot until the hotpot place was closed.</span> | *我们 吃 火锅 吃 <strong>到</strong> <em>火锅店 关门</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī <strong>dào</strong> <em>huǒguōdiàn guānmén</em>.</span><span class="trans">We ate hotpot until the hotpot place was closed.</span> | ||
| − | * | + | *今天 的 部门 会议 一直 开 <strong>到</strong> <em>晚上 九点</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Jīntiān de bùmén huìyì yīzhí kāi <strong>dào</strong> <em>wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">This department meeting wasn't over until 9pm.</span> |
| − | *她 给 | + | *她 给 男朋友 打 电话 一直 打 <strong>到</strong> <em>手机 没 电</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Tā gěi dǎ diànhuà yīzhí dǎ <strong>dào</strong> <em>shǒujī méi diàn</em>.</span><span class="trans">She called her mom until her phone was dead.</span> |
| − | * | + | *我们 在 Karaoke 一直 唱 <strong>到</strong> <em>第二天 早上 五点</em> 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài Karaoke yīzhí chàng <strong>dào</strong> <em>dì-èr tiān zǎoshang wǔ diǎn</em>.</span><span class="trans">We were singing at KTV til 5 o'clock the next morning.</span> |
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Revision as of 09:52, 6 November 2017
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Level
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Similar to
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Used for
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Keywords
One kind of complement in Chinese involves putting 到 after the verb. 到 (dào) is used to indicate that the action has obtained a goal or a certain state.
Structure
Verb + 到 + Time
Examples
- 我 昨天 晚上 工作 到 十二 点 半 。I worked until 12:30 last night.
- 我们 一直 等 到 天黑 。We waited until it was getting dark.
- 他们 想 在 这里 住 到 春天 。They want to live here until it's spring.
- 你们 要 玩 到 什么 时候 ？When will you be done playing?
- 爸爸 看电视 看 到 半夜 。My dad watched TV until midnight.
- 我们 吃 火锅 吃 到 火锅店 关门 。We ate hotpot until the hotpot place was closed.
- 今天 的 部门 会议 一直 开 到 晚上 九点 。This department meeting wasn't over until 9pm.
- 她 给 男朋友 打 电话 一直 打 到 手机 没 电 。She called her mom until her phone was dead.
- 我们 在 Karaoke 一直 唱 到 第二天 早上 五点 。We were singing at KTV til 5 o'clock the next morning.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 240) →buy
- Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) (p.93-95) →buy
