Expressing "until" with "dao"

One kind of complement in Chinese involves putting 到 after the verb. 到 (dào) is used to indicate that the action has obtained a goal or a certain state.

Structure

Verb + 到 + Time / Event

Examples

• 我们 一直 等 到 天黑 。Wǒmen yīzhí děng dào tiānhēi.We waited until it was getting dark.
• 你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 到 什么 时候 ？Nǐ dìdi yào zài wǒmen jiā zhù dào shénme shíhou?How much longer is your younger brother going to stay in our house?
• 你们 要 玩 到 几 点 ？Nǐmen yào wán dào dào jǐ diǎn?When will you be done playing?
• 今天 的 会 一直 开 到 晚上 九点 。Jīntiān de huì yīzhí kāi dào wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.Today's meeting wasn't over until 9pm.
• 我们 在 酒吧 一直 聊 到 半夜 。Wǒmen zài jiǔbā yīzhí liáo dào bànyè.We were chatting in the bar til midnight.
• 宝宝 一直 哭 到 妈妈 回来 。Bǎobao yīzhí kū dào māma huílái.The baby didn't stop crying until the mother came back.
• 我们 吃 火锅 吃 到 火锅店 关门 。Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī dào huǒguōdiàn guānmén.We ate hotpot until the hotpot place was closed.
• 我 女儿 昨天 晚上 写作业 写 到 十二 点 半 。Wǒ nǚ'ér zuótiān wǎnshang xiě zuòyè xiě shí'èr diǎn bàn.My daughter didn't finish her homework until 12:30 last night.
• 她 给 男朋友 打 电话 一直 打 到 手机 没 电 。Tā gěi nánpéngyou dǎ diànhuà yīzhí dǎ dào shǒujī méi diàn.She called her mom until her phone was dead.

See also

• Verbs with gei
• "Zai" following verbs
• To go to a place
• Complement

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2) (pp. 240) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册) (pp. 93-95) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

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