Using "dao" to mean "to go to"
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Keywords
A simple and direct way to indicate that you or someone is going to a specific place or has arrived at a specific place is to use the verb 到 (dào).
Contents
Place
Structure
The verb 到 (dào) is used to talk about going to places.
Subj. + 到 + Place
Examples
Sometimes it's straightforward to think of 到 (dào) as simply meaning "to arrive." In some examples this doesn't work as well, though, and you might need to expand your understanding of exactly what 到 (dào) means.
- 他们 已经 到 酒吧 了。 They have already arrived at the bar.
- 我 刚 到 家。 I just got home.
- 你 到 机场 了 吗？ Have you arrived at the airport?
- 我们 先 到 北京 ， 然后 到 香港。 First we'll arrive in Beijing, then in Hong Kong.
- 请 问 这 个 地铁 到 火车站 吗 ？ Excuse me, does this subway go to the train station?
Place and action
Structure
If you are going to a place to do something else, you can first use 到 (dào) to indicate where you're going, then add another verb after that. This has the meaning of "going to the place to do something," and it's one case where the "arrive" translation doesn't really work anymore.
Subj. + 到 + Place + Verb Phrase
Examples
- 明天 我 要 到 南京 路 买 衣服。 Tomorrow I'll go to Nanjing Road to buy clothes.
- 你们 晚上 到 哪儿 吃饭 啊？ Where will you all go to eat food this evening?
- 我 跟 朋友 经常 到 KTV 唱歌 。 I often go to Karaoke to sing songs with friends.
- 今年 春节 我 要 到 女朋友 家 见 她 的 父母 。 This Spring Festival I am going to my girlfriend's house to meet her parents.
- 下 个 月 我 要 到 美国 出差。 Next month I need to go to America on a business trip.
到, 去, and 走
Sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly which word to use in Chinese to mean "go." 到 (dào) is used when you talk about arriving at a place, emphasizing the destination. 去 (qù) is used when you are going to a place. The exact meaning is "to go," and it emphasizes getting somewhere. 走 (zǒu) is used when talking about "leaving." The emphasis is on getting away from a particular place.
