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 了 会议 时间 ，我 再 安排 。Děng nǐmen quèrèn le huìyì shíjiān, wǒ zài ānpái.I will arrange this when you confirm the meeting time.
• 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 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"