Difference between revisions of "Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
  
从...到... (cóng...dào...) is used in the same way as "from ... to ..." as in English, and it can be used both for times and places.
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从⋯⋯ 到⋯⋯(cóng... dào...) is used in the same way as "from... to..." is used in English, and can be used both for times and places.
  
==Used for time==
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== Used for Times ==
  
 
To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:
 
To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:
  
===Structure===
+
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2
Subj. + 从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can also be an event or action, as we would say, in English, something like "from getting on the plane until arriving in China, I felt nervous."
+
The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can be any event or action.
  
===Examples===
+
=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>从</em> 一号 <em>到</em> 五号 都 在 下雨。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> yī hào <em>dào</em> wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ. </span><span class="trans">From the first to the fifth, it's been raining all the time. </span>
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* <em>从</em> 2004 年 <em>到</em> 2008 年<span class="pinyin"><em>cóng</em> èr-líng-líng-sì nián <em>dào</em> èr-líng-líng-bā nián</span><span class="trans">from 2004 to 2008</span>
*老板 <em>从</em> 周二 <em>到</em> 周五 要 出差。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>cóng</em> zhōuèr <em>dào</em> zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi. </span><span class="trans">From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip. </span>
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* <em>从</em> 一号 <em>到</em> 五号 在 下雨。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> yī hào <em>dào</em> wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ.</span><span class="trans">From the first to the fifth, it's been raining non-stop.</span>
*<em>从</em> 2004 年 <em>到</em> 都 在 上海 工作。<span class="pinyin"><em>cóng</em> èr-líng-líng-sì nián <em>dào</em> èr-líng-líng-bā nián dōu zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">From 2004 to 2008, I have always worked in Shanghai.</span>
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*老板 <em>从</em> 周二 <em>到</em> 周五 要 出差。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>cóng</em> Zhōuèr <em>dào</em> Zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi.</span><span class="trans">From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.</span>
*她 <em>从</em> 18岁 <em>到</em> 现在 都 一个人 住。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cóng</em> shíbā suì <em>dào</em> xiànzài dōu yī gè rén zhù.</span><span class="trans">She's lived alone since she was 18. </span>
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*她 <em>从</em> 18岁 <em>到</em> 现在 都 一个人 住。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cóng</em> shíbā suì <em>dào</em> xiànzài dōu yīgèrén zhù.</span><span class="trans">She's lived alone since she was 18 until now.</span>
*你 不能 <em>从</em> 早 <em>到</em> 晚 不 吃 东西。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bùnéng <em>cóng</em> zǎo <em>dào</em> wǎn bù chī dōngxi. </span><span class="trans">You can't eat nothing from day to night. </span>
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*你 不 能 <em>从</em> 早 <em>到</em> 晚 不 吃 东西。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù néng <em>cóng</em> zǎo <em>dào</em> wǎn bù chī dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">You can't eat nothing from morning to night.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
This is the easiest way to talk about doing something from one time through to another. Remember that there are two options for the [[Time words and word order|word order of time words]], so the 从 ... 到 ... (cóng...dào...) phrase can go before or after the subject.
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Remember that there are two options for the [[Time words and word order|word order of time words]].
  
==Used for place==
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== Used for Places ==
  
The 从...到... (cóng...dào...) structure can also be used to express from one place to another, and is used
+
The same structure can also be used to express "from" one place "to" another.
  
 
===Structure===
 
===Structure===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
+
从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2
Subj. + 从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2
 
 
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* <em>从</em> 酒店 <em>到</em> 机场 不太 远。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> jiǔdiàn <em>dào</em> jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn. </span><span class="trans">From the hotel to the airport is not too far. </span>
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* <em>从</em> 南京 西 路 <em>到</em> 南京 东 路<span class="pinyin"><em>cóng</em> Nánjīng Xī Lù <em>dào</em> Nánjīng Dōng Lù</span><span class="trans">from West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road</span>
*<em>从</em> 上海  <em>到</em> 北京 只 要 几 个 小时。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> Shànghǎi <em>dào</em> Běijīng zhǐyào jǐ gè xiǎoshí. </span><span class="trans">From Shanghai to Beijing only takes a few hours. </span>
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* <em>从</em> 酒店 <em>到</em> 机场 不太 远。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> jiǔdiàn <em>dào</em> jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn.</span><span class="trans">From the hotel to the airport is not too far.</span>
*<em>从</em> 中国 <em>到</em> 美国,只 能 坐 飞机。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> Zhōngguó <em>dào</em> Měiguó, zhǐnéng zuò fēijī. </span><span class="trans">From China to America, you can only take the airpalne. </span>
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* <em>从</em> 上海  <em>到</em> 北京 要 几 个 小时。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> Shànghǎi <em>dào</em> Běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí.</span><span class="trans">From Shanghai to Beijing it takes a few hours.</span>
*<em>从</em> 你家 <em>到</em> 机场 可以 坐地铁 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> nǐjiā <em>dào</em> jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? </span><span class="trans">Can I take the metro to the airport from your place? </span>
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* <em>从</em> 你 家 <em>到</em> 机场 可以 坐 地铁 吗?<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> nǐ jiā <em>dào</em> jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? </span><span class="trans">From your place  to the airport, can I take the subway?</span>
*<em>从</em> 这里 <em>到</em> 我们 公司,你 会 看见 很多 美女。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> zhèlǐ <em>dào</em> wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěnduō měinǚ. </span><span class="trans">From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls. </span>
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* <em>从</em> 这里 <em>到</em> 我们 公司,你 会 看见 很 多 美女。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> zhèlǐ <em>dào</em> wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěn duō měinǚ.</span><span class="trans">From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
*[["(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"]]
+
 
*[[To go to a place]]
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* [[Comparing "li" and "cong"]]
 +
* [[Using "dao" to mean "to go to"]]
 +
* [[Expressing distance with "li"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 84-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|69}}
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 112-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|84-5}}
* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (p. 89) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy]
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{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|112-3}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 237-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy]
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{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|89}}
 +
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1|237-8}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{Used for|Giving directions}}
 
{{Used for|Giving directions}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing distance}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing distance}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing duration}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing duration}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
 
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Basic Grammar|从|A2|从…… 到……|<em>从</em>1 号 <em>到</em> 5 号 我 在 上海。|grammar point|ASGGGIW8}}
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{{Basic Grammar|从|A2|从⋯⋯到⋯⋯|<em>从</em>1 号 <em>到</em> 5 号 我 在 上海。|grammar point|ASGGGIW8}}
 
{{Rel char|到}}
 
{{Rel char|到}}
{{Similar|"(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"}}  
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{{Similar|Using "dao" to mean "to go to"}} 
{{Similar|To go to a place}}
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{{Similar|Comparing "li" and "cong"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing distance with "li"}}
 +
{{Similar|Use "cong...zhong" to express "from"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "from (a certain time) on" using "zi……qi"}}
 +
{{Similar|Expressing "to come from" with "laizi"}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{POS|Prepositions}}
 
{{Translation|from}}
 
{{Translation|from}}
 
{{Translation|to}}
 
{{Translation|to}}
 +
{{Translation|until}}

Latest revision as of 08:55, 21 April 2021

从⋯⋯ 到⋯⋯(cóng... dào...) is used in the same way as "from... to..." is used in English, and can be used both for times and places.

Used for Times

To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:

Structure

从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2

The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can be any event or action.

Examples

  • 2004 年 2008 年cóng èr-líng-líng-sì nián dào èr-líng-líng-bā niánfrom 2004 to 2008
  • 一号 五号 都 在 下雨。Cóng yī hào dào wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ.From the first to the fifth, it's been raining non-stop.
  • 老板 周二 周五 都 要 出差。Lǎobǎn cóng Zhōuèr dào Zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi.From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.
  • 18岁 现在 都 一个人 住。cóng shíbā suì dào xiànzài dōu yīgèrén zhù.She's lived alone since she was 18 until now.
  • 你 不 能 晚 不 吃 东西。Nǐ bù néng cóng zǎo dào wǎn bù chī dōngxi.You can't eat nothing from morning to night.

Remember that there are two options for the word order of time words.

Used for Places

The same structure can also be used to express "from" one place "to" another.

Structure

从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2

Examples

  • 南京 西 路 南京 东 路cóng Nánjīng Xī Lù dào Nánjīng Dōng Lùfrom West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road
  • 酒店 机场 不太 远。Cóng jiǔdiàn dào jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn.From the hotel to the airport is not too far.
  • 上海 北京 要 几 个 小时。Cóng Shànghǎi dào Běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí.From Shanghai to Beijing it takes a few hours.
  • 你 家 机场 可以 坐 地铁 吗?Cóng nǐ jiā dào jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? From your place to the airport, can I take the subway?
  • 这里 我们 公司,你 会 看见 很 多 美女。Cóng zhèlǐ dào wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěn duō měinǚ.From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books