Expressing "when" with "dengdao"

The word 等到 (děngdào) can trip up learners because while it can literally mean "wait until," it also has the less literal translation meaning "when (the time comes)" or "by the time." This is a pattern that appears in complex sentences, with 等到 acting as a conjunction and appearing in the first part as the first word in the sentence.

Structure

等(到) + Time / Event ，Subj. + 再 / 就 / 才 ⋯⋯

Examples

• 等到 大学 毕业 ，我 就 不 住 在 学校 里 了。Děngdào dàxué bìyè, wǒ jiù bù zhù zài xuéxiào lǐ le.When I graduate from college, I don't live at school.
• 等到 秋天 ，这些 树叶 就 会 变 黄 。Děngdào qiūtiān, zhèxiē shùyè jiù huì biàn huáng.When it is autumn, the leaves will have already become yellow.
• 等 雨 停 我 再 出门 。Děng yǔ tíng wǒ zài chūmén.When the rain stops, then I will go outside.
• 等 这个 项目 结束 ，我们 部门 就 开 派对 庆祝 。Děng zhège xiàngmù jiéshù, wǒmen bùmén kāi pàiduì qìngzhù.When this project is finished, our department can have a party to celebrate.
• 等 我 当 了 爸爸 ，我 才 知道 做 父母 多么 不 容易 。Děng wǒ dāng le bàba, wǒ cái zhīdào zuò fùmǔ duōme bù róngyì.It wasn't until I became a father that I realized how hard it is to be a parent.