Difference between revisions of "Expressing "until" with "dao""
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| − | One kind of [[complement]] in Chinese involves putting 到 after the verb. 到 | + | One kind of [[complement]] in Chinese involves putting 到 (dào) after the verb, followed by a time or other event. This 到 works much like the English word "[[until]]." |
| − | == Structure == | + | == Basic Pattern == |
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
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You will sometimes see 一直 (yīzhí) proceeding 到, which serves the purpose of the emphasis on the "ongoing duration." | You will sometimes see 一直 (yīzhí) proceeding 到, which serves the purpose of the emphasis on the "ongoing duration." | ||
| − | Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable | + | Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable. |
| − | == Examples == | + | === Examples === |
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
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*你们 要 玩 <em>到</em> 几 点 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào wán <em>dào</em> jǐ diǎn?</span><span class="trans">When will you be done playing?</span> | *你们 要 玩 <em>到</em> 几 点 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào wán <em>dào</em> jǐ diǎn?</span><span class="trans">When will you be done playing?</span> | ||
*我们 在 酒吧 <strong>一直</strong> 聊 <em>到</em> 半夜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài jiǔbā <strong>yīzhí</strong> liáo <em>dào</em> bànyè.</span><span class="trans">We were chatting in the bar until midnight.</span> | *我们 在 酒吧 <strong>一直</strong> 聊 <em>到</em> 半夜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài jiǔbā <strong>yīzhí</strong> liáo <em>dào</em> bànyè.</span><span class="trans">We were chatting in the bar until midnight.</span> | ||
| − | *你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 <em>到</em> 什么 时候 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ dìdi yào zài wǒmen jiā zhù <em>dào</em> shénme shíhou?</span><span class="trans"> | + | *你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 <em>到</em> 什么 时候 ？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ dìdi yào zài wǒmen jiā zhù <em>dào</em> shénme shíhou?</span><span class="trans">Your younger brother is going to stay in our house until when?</span> |
*昨天 的 会 <strong>一直</strong> 开 <em>到</em> 晚上 九点 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān de huì <strong>yīzhí</strong> kāi <em>dào</em> wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm.</span> | *昨天 的 会 <strong>一直</strong> 开 <em>到</em> 晚上 九点 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān de huì <strong>yīzhí</strong> kāi <em>dào</em> wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm.</span> | ||
*我 邻居 今天 吵架 了 ，<strong>一直</strong> 吵 <em>到</em> 警察 过来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ línjū jīntiān chǎojià le, <strong>yīzhí</strong> chǎo <em>dào</em> jǐngchá guòlái.</span><span class="trans">My neighbors had a fight today, which lasted until the police came.</span> | *我 邻居 今天 吵架 了 ，<strong>一直</strong> 吵 <em>到</em> 警察 过来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ línjū jīntiān chǎojià le, <strong>yīzhí</strong> chǎo <em>dào</em> jǐngchá guòlái.</span><span class="trans">My neighbors had a fight today, which lasted until the police came.</span> | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | If | + | == Pattern with Repeating Verb == |
| + | |||
| + | === Structure === | ||
| + | |||
| + | If there is a verb phrase proceeding 到, use this structure: | ||
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</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | Note that in this pattern, the verb is going to repeat. | |
| + | |||
| + | === Examples === | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
Revision as of 16:12, 27 November 2018
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Keywords
One kind of complement in Chinese involves putting 到 (dào) after the verb, followed by a time or other event. This 到 works much like the English word "until."
Contents
Basic Pattern
Structure
Verb (+ 一直) + 到 + Time / Event
You will sometimes see 一直 (yīzhí) proceeding 到, which serves the purpose of the emphasis on the "ongoing duration."
Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable.
Examples
- 你们 要 玩 到 几 点 ？When will you be done playing?
- 我们 在 酒吧 一直 聊 到 半夜 。We were chatting in the bar until midnight.
- 你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 到 什么 时候 ？Your younger brother is going to stay in our house until when?
- 昨天 的 会 一直 开 到 晚上 九点 。Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm.
- 我 邻居 今天 吵架 了 ，一直 吵 到 警察 过来 。My neighbors had a fight today, which lasted until the police came.
- 我们 晚上 去 吃火锅 了 ，一直 吃 到 火锅店 关门 。We went to eat hotpot tonight, and we didn't finish until the place was closed.
- 他 昨天 一天 都 在 打游戏 ，一直 打 到 他 妈妈 回家 。He was playing computer games all day yesterday. He didn't stop until his mother came home.
Pattern with Repeating Verb
Structure
If there is a verb phrase proceeding 到, use this structure:
[Verb Phrase] (+ 一直) + Verb + 到 + Time / Event
Note that in this pattern, the verb is going to repeat.
Examples
- 你 知 不 知道 我们 等 你 等 到 半夜 ？Do you know we waited for you until midnight?
- 我 女儿 昨天 晚上 写作业 写 到 十二 点 半 。My daughter didn't finish her homework until 12:30 last night.
- 她 给 男朋友 打电话 打 到 手机 没 电 。She called her boyfriend and they kept talking until her phone was out of battery.
See also
- Verbs with gei
- Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…"
- "Zai" following verbs
- Expressing "when" with "dengdao"
- Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao"
