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

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

Used for time

To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:

Structure

Subj. + 从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2

The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can also be an event or action, as we would say, in English, something like "from getting on the plane until arriving in China, I felt nervous."

Examples

• 从 一号 到 五号 都 在 下雨。Cóng yī hào dào wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ. From the first to the fifth, it's been raining all the time.
• 老板 从 周二 到 周五 都 要 出差。Lǎobǎn cóng zhōuèr dào zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi. From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.
• 我 从 2004 年 到 都 在 上海 工作。Wǒ cóng èr-líng-líng-sì nián dào èr-líng-líng-bā nián dōu zài Shànghǎi gōngzuò.From 2004 to 2008, I have always worked in Shanghai.
• 她 从 18岁 到 现在 都 一个人 住。Tā cóng shíbā suì dào xiànzài dōu yī gè rén zhù.She's lived alone since she was 18.
• 你 不能 从 早 到 晚 不 吃 东西。Nǐ bùnéng cóng zǎo dào wǎn bù chī dōngxi. You can't eat nothing from day to night.

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 ... (cóng...dào...) phrase can go before or after the subject.

Used for place

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

Structure

Subj. + 从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2

Examples

• 从 酒店 到 机场 不太 远。Cóng jiǔdiàn dào jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn. From the hotel to the airport is not too far.
• 从 上海 到 北京 要 几 个 小时。Cóng Shànghǎi dào Běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí. From Shanghai to Beijing takes a few hours.
• 从 南京 西路 到 南京东路，有 很 多 很贵 的 店。Cóng Nánjīngxīlù dào Nánjīngdōnglù, yǒu hěnduō hěn guì de diàn. From West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road, there are many expensive stores.
• 从 你家 到 机场 可以 坐地铁 吗？Cóng nǐjiā dào jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? Can I take the metro to the airport from your place?
• 从 这里 到 我们 公司，你 会 看见 很多 美女。Cóng zhèlǐ dào wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěnduō měinǚ. From here to our company, you'll 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