Difference between revisions of "Expressing "when" with "dengdao""
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== Used for the Future == | == Used for the Future == | ||
| + | |||
| + | When talking about the future, the second part of the sentence uses [[就]] or [[再]]. | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *<em>等到</em> | + | *<em>等到</em> 老板 知道 <strong>就</strong> 麻烦 了。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> lǎobǎn zhīdao <strong>jiù</strong> máfan le.</span><span class="trans">When the boss finds out, we'll be in trouble.</span> |
| − | *<em>等</em> 雨 停 了 我 <strong>再</strong> 出门 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> yǔ tíng le wǒ <strong>zài</strong> chūmén.</span><span class="trans">When the rain stops, | + | *<em>等</em> 雨 停 了 我 <strong>再</strong> 出门 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> yǔ tíng le wǒ <strong>zài</strong> chūmén.</span><span class="trans">When the rain stops, I'll go outside.</span> |
| − | *<em>等到</em> 秋天 ，这些 树叶 <strong>就</strong> 会 变 黄 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> qiūtiān, zhèxiē shùyè <strong>jiù</strong> huì biàn huáng.</span><span class="trans">When | + | *<em>等到</em> 秋天 ，这些 树叶 <strong>就</strong> 会 变 黄 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> qiūtiān, zhèxiē shùyè <strong>jiù</strong> huì biàn huáng.</span><span class="trans">When autumn arrives, these leaves will turn yellow.</span> |
| − | *<em>等</em> | + | *<em>等</em> 做 完 这个 项目 ，我 <strong>就</strong> 休假 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> zuò wán zhège xiàngmù, wǒ <strong>jiù</strong> xiūjià.</span><span class="trans">I will take a vacation when I finish this project.</span> |
| − | *<em>等到</em> 老板 签 了 字 ，我 <strong>再</strong> 做 安排 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> lǎobǎn qiān le zì, wǒ <strong>zài</strong> zuò ānpái.</span><span class="trans">I will make arrangements | + | *<em>等到</em> 老板 签 了 字 ，我 <strong>再</strong> 做 安排 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> lǎobǎn qiān le zì, wǒ <strong>zài</strong> zuò ānpái.</span><span class="trans">I will make arrangements once the boss signs off on it.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
== Used for the Past == | == Used for the Past == | ||
| + | |||
| + | For the past, the second part of the sentence uses [[才]]. The pattern overlaps with the | ||
=== Structure === | === Structure === | ||
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<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *<em>等</em> 我 回 了 家 ，<strong>才</strong> 发现 手机 忘 在 了 出租车 上 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> wǒ huí le jiā, <strong>cái</strong> fāxiàn shǒujī wàng zài le chūzūchē shàng.</span><span class="trans">I didn't realize I left my | + | *<em>等</em> 我 回 了 家 ，<strong>才</strong> 发现 手机 忘 在 了 出租车 上 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> wǒ huí le jiā, <strong>cái</strong> fāxiàn shǒujī wàng zài le chūzūchē shàng.</span><span class="trans">I didn't realize I left my cell phone in the taxi until I got home.</span> |
*<em>等到</em> 孩子 上 了 小学 ，她 <strong>才</strong> 开始 工作 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> háizi shàng le xiǎoxué, tā <strong>cái</strong> kāishǐ gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">She didn't start working until her children went to elementary school.</span> | *<em>等到</em> 孩子 上 了 小学 ，她 <strong>才</strong> 开始 工作 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děngdào</em> háizi shàng le xiǎoxué, tā <strong>cái</strong> kāishǐ gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">She didn't start working until her children went to elementary school.</span> | ||
*<em>等</em> 学生 都 安静 了 ，老师 <strong>才</strong> 开始 上课 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> xuéshēng dōu ānjìng le, lǎoshī <strong>cái</strong> kāishǐ shàngkè.</span><span class="trans">The teacher didn't begin the class until the students all became quiet.</span> | *<em>等</em> 学生 都 安静 了 ，老师 <strong>才</strong> 开始 上课 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Děng</em> xuéshēng dōu ānjìng le, lǎoshī <strong>cái</strong> kāishǐ shàngkè.</span><span class="trans">The teacher didn't begin the class until the students all became quiet.</span> | ||
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{{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}} | {{Subprop|Complex Sentence Patterns}} | ||
{{Translation|when}} | {{Translation|when}} | ||
| + | {{Translation|once}} | ||
{{Translation|until}} | {{Translation|until}} | ||
Revision as of 02:48, 20 November 2018
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Keywords
The word 等到 (děngdào) can trip up learners, because while it can literally mean "to wait until," it also has the less literal translation meaning "when (the time comes)" or "by the time (something happens)." 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.
Contents
Used for the Future
When talking about the future, the second part of the sentence uses 就 or 再.
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 老板 知道 就 麻烦 了。When the boss finds out, we'll be in trouble.
- 等 雨 停 了 我 再 出门 。When the rain stops, I'll go outside.
- 等到 秋天 ，这些 树叶 就 会 变 黄 。When autumn arrives, these leaves will turn yellow.
- 等 做 完 这个 项目 ，我 就 休假 。I will take a vacation when I finish this project.
- 等到 老板 签 了 字 ，我 再 做 安排 。I will make arrangements once the boss signs off on it.
Used for the Past
For the past, the second part of the sentence uses 才. The pattern overlaps with the
Structure
等(到) + Time / Event ，Subj. + 才 + Predicate
Examples
- 等 我 回 了 家 ，才 发现 手机 忘 在 了 出租车 上 。I didn't realize I left my cell phone in the taxi until I got home.
- 等到 孩子 上 了 小学 ，她 才 开始 工作 。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 。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 。It wasn't until he had a child that he realized how hard it is to be a parent.
- 等到 他 到 家 了 ，才 发现 他 没有 带 钥匙 。It wasn't until he got home that he found that he didn't have his keys.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
