Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…"

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

Used for time

To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:（这里的Time不一定只是时间名词，它可以是具有时间标识的事件或动作。）

Structure

Subject + 从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2

Examples

• 从 一号 到 五号，我 在 北京。From the first to the fifth, I am in Beijing.
• 他 从 七点 到 十点 都 在 上网。He is online from 7 o'clock to 10 o'clock.
• 我们 从 早 到 晚 都 在 喝 啤酒。We drink beer from morning until dawn.
• 从 去年 到 现在，我 一直 没 有 女朋友。From last year to now, I haven't had a girlfriend.
• 从 现在 到 明天 早上，你 不 能 出去。From now to tomorrow morning, you are not allowed to go out.
• 我 从 明天 到 下 周 一 都 在 北京 出差。From tomorrow until next Monday I will be in Beijing on a business trip.
• 从 2004 年 到 2013年，我 一直 都 在 上海。From 2004 to 2008, I have always lived in Shanghai.
• 她 从 出生 到 现在 都 没 见 过 她 的 妈妈。From birth till now, she never saw her mom.
• 你 不 要 从 早 到 晚 都 看 电视。You don't want to watch television from morning till evening.
• 从 那个时候 到 现在，我 一直 在 这 个 公司 工作。From that time till now, I always worked at this office.

This is the easiest way to talk about doing something from one time through to another. Remember that there are two options for the word order of time words, so the 从 ... 到 ... phrase can go before or after the subject.

Used for place

The 从...到 structure can also be used to express from one place to another, and is used

Structure

Subject + 从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2

Structure

• 请问，从 超市 到 银行 怎么 走？May I ask, how do I get from the supermarket to the bank?
• 从 地铁 站 到 学校，有 很 多 饭 店。There are many fast food restaurants from the metro station to the school.
• 从 酒吧 到 酒店 有 多 远？How far is the bar from the hotel?
• 从 我 家 到 机场 不太 远。From my home to the airport is not too far.
• 从 这里 到 洗手间 怎么 走？How do I get from here to the toilet?
• 从 上海 到 东京 只 要 几 个 小时。From Shanghai to Tokyo only takes a few hours.
• 从 成都 到 西藏，需要 三 天。It takes three days to go from Chengdu to Tibet.
• 从 我 家 到 地铁站 有 很 多 学校。From my home to the metro station there are lots of schools.
• 从 这儿 到 火车站 需要 多久？How long does it take to get from here to the train station?
• 从 这里 到 公园，你 会 看到 很 多 美女。From here to the park, you can see many beautiful girls.

See also

• "(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"
• To go to a place

Sources and further reading

Books

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 84-5) →buy
• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 112-3) →buy
• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (p. 89) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 237-8) →buy