Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…"
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Level
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Used for
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Keywords
从⋯⋯ 到⋯⋯(cóng... dào...) is used in the same way as "from... to..." is used in English, and can be used both for times and places.
Contents
Used for Times
To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:
Structure
从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2
The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can be any event or action.
Examples
- 从 2004 年 到 2008 年from 2004 to 2008
- 从 一号 到 五号 都 在 下雨。From the first to the fifth, it's been raining non-stop.
- 老板 从 周二 到 周五 都 要 出差。From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.
- 她 从 18岁 到 现在 都 一个人 住。She's lived alone since she was 18 until now.
- 你 不 能 从 早 到 晚 不 吃 东西。You can't eat nothing from morning to night.
Remember that there are two options for the word order of time words.
Used for Places
The same structure can also be used to express "from" one place "to" another.
Structure
从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2
Examples
- 从 南京 西 路 到 南京 东 路from West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road
- 从 酒店 到 机场 不太 远。From the hotel to the airport is not too far.
- 从 上海 到 北京 要 几 个 小时。From Shanghai to Beijing it takes a few hours.
- 从 你 家 到 机场 可以 坐 地铁 吗?From your place to the airport, can I take the subway?
- 从 这里 到 我们 公司,你 会 看见 很 多 美女。From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls.
See Also
Sources and further reading
Books
- Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 84-5) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 112-3) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (pp. 89) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1 (pp. 237-8) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy