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

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.

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 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 non-stop.
• 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 2008 年 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 worked in Shanghai.
• 她 从 18岁 到 现在 都 一个人 住。Tā cóng shíbā suì dào xiànzài dōu yīgèrén zhù.She's lived alone since she was 18 until now.
• 你 不 能 从 早 到 晚 不 吃 东西。Nǐ bù néng cóng zǎo dào wǎn bù chī dōngxi.You can't eat nothing from morning 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 Places

The 从⋯⋯到⋯⋯ (cóng... dào...) structure can also be used to express "from" one place "to" another.

Structure

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 it takes a few hours.
• 从 南京 西 路 到 南京 东 路，有 很 多 很贵 的 店。Cóng Nánjīng Xī Lù dào Nánjīng Dōng Lù, yǒu hěn duō 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 nǐ jiā dào jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? 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。Cóng zhèlǐ dào wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěn duō měinǚ.From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls.

See Also

• Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"
• Using "dao" to mean "to go to"

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