Expressing "until" with "dao"

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 / Event

Examples

• 我 昨天 晚上 工作 到 十二 点 半 。Wǒ zuótiān wǎnshang gōngzuò dào shí'èr diǎn bàn.I worked until 12:30 last night.
• 我们 一直 等 到 天黑 。Wǒmen yīzhí děng dào tiānhēi.We waited until it was getting dark.
• 他们 想 在 这里 住 到 春天 。Tāmen xiǎng zài zhèlǐ zhù dào chūntiān.They want to live here until spring.
• 你们 要 玩 到 什么 时候 ？Nǐmen yào wán dào dào shénme shíhou?When will you be done playing?
• 今天 的 部门 会议 一直 开 到 晚上 九点 。Jīntiān de bùmén huìyì yīzhí kāi dào wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.This department meeting wasn't over until 9pm.
• 我们 在 酒吧 一直 聊 到 第 二 天 早上 五 点 。Wǒmen zài jiǔbā yīzhí liáo dào dì-èr tiān zǎoshang wǔ diǎn.We were chatting in the bar til 5 o'clock the next morning.
• 宝宝 一直 哭 到 妈妈 回来 。The baby didn't stop crying until the mother came back.
• 我们 吃 火锅 到 火锅店 关门 。Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī dào huǒguōdiàn guānmén.We ate hotpot until the hotpot place was closed.
• 她 给 男朋友 打 电话 一直 打 到 手机 没 电 。Tā gěi nánpéngyou dǎ diànhuà yīzhí dǎ dào shǒujī méi diàn.She called her mom until her phone was dead.

See also

• Verbs with gei
• "Zai" following verbs
• To go to a place
• Complement

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

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