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 大学 毕业 ，我 就 不 住 在 学校 里 了。Děngdào dàxué bìyè, wǒ jiù bù zhù zài xuéxiào lǐ le.When I graduate from college, I don't live at school.
• 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.
• 等 雨 停 我 再 出门 。Děng yǔ tíng wǒ zài chūmén.When the rain stops, then I will go outside.
• 等 你们 确认 ，我 再 安排 。Děng nǐmen quèrèn, wǒ zài ānpái.I will arrange this when you confirm.
• 等 这个 项目 结束 ，我 就 休假 。Děng zhège xiàngmù jiéshù, wǒ jiù xiūjià.When this project is finished, I will take a vacation.

Used for the Past

Structure

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

Examples

• 等 ，我们 才 。 .
• 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 我们 结 了 婚 ，我 才 发现 他 的 缺点 。Děng wǒmen jiē le hūn, wǒ cái fāxiàn tā de quēdiǎn.I didn't see his shortcomings until we got married.
• 等到 他们 分手 ，他 才 意识到 前女友 有 多 好 。Děngdào tāmen fēnshǒu, tā cái yìshídào qián-nǚyǒu yǒu duō hǎo.He didn't realize how great his ex-girlfriend is until they broke up.
• 等 我 当 了 爸爸 ，我 才 知道 做 父母 多么 不 容易 。Děng wǒ dāng le bàba, wǒ cái zhīdào zuò fùmǔ duōme bù róngyì.It wasn't until I became a father that I realized how hard it is to be a parent.