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.

Used for the Future

Structure

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

The predicate part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective.

Examples

• 等到 你 感觉 不 舒服 ，就 晚 了。Děngdào nǐ gǎnjué bù shūfu, jiù wǎn le.It will be too late when you feel not well.
• 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.
• 我 等 雨 停 了 再 出门 。Wǒ děng yǔ tíng le zài chūmén.When the rain stops, then I will go outside.
• 等 做完 这个 项目 ，我 就 休假 。Děng zhège xiàngmù jiéshù, wǒ jiù xiūjià.I will take a vacation when I complete this project.
• 我 等 老板 签字 再 做 安排 。Wǒ děng lǎobǎn qiān le zì zài zuò ānpái.I will make arrangements when the boss signs the paper.

Used for the Past

Structure

等(到) + Time / Event ，Subj. + 才 + Predicate

Examples

• 等 我 上 了 车 ，才 发现 手机 忘 在 了 朋友 家 。Děng wǒ shàng le chē, cái fāxiàn shǒujī wàng zài le péngyou jiā.I didn't realize I left my cellphone at my friend's place until I got in the car.
• 等到 孩子 上 了 小学 ，她 才 开始 工作 。Děngdào háizi shàng le xiǎoxué, tā cái kāishǐ gōngzuò.She didn't start working until her children went to elementary school.
• 等 学生 都 安静 了 ，老师 才 开始 上课 。Děng xuéshēng dōu ānjìng le, lǎoshī cái kāishǐ shàngkè.The teacher didn't begin the class until the students all became quiet.
• 等 他 有 了 孩子 ，才 知道 做 父母 多么 不 容易 。Děng tā yǒu le háizi, cái zhīdào zuò fùmǔ duōme bù róngyì.It wasn't until he had a child that he realized how hard it is to be a parent.
• 等到 他 得 了 癌症 ，才 意识到 健康 有 多 宝贵 。Děngdào tā de le áizhèng, cái yìshí dào jiànkāng yǒu duō bǎoguì.He didn't realize how precious health is until he had cancer.

See also

• Complement with "dao"
• Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao"