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.

Used with One-Syllable Verb

Structure

Verb (+ 一直) + 到 + Time / Event

You will sometimes see 一直 (yīzhí) proceeding 到, which serves the purpose of the emphasis on the "ongoing duration."

Examples

• 我们 一直 等 到 天黑 。Wǒmen yīzhí děng dào tiān hēi.We waited until it was getting dark.
• 你们 要 玩 到 几 点 ？Nǐmen yào wán dào jǐ diǎn?When will you be done playing?
• 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.
• 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?
• 今天 的 会 一直 开 到 晚上 九点 。Jīntiān de huì yīzhí kāi dào wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.We had a meeting today til 9 pm.

Used with Verb-Obj.

Structure

Verb + Obj. (+ 一直) + Verb + 到 + Time / Event

Examples

• 他 打游戏 一直 打 到 他 妈妈 回家 。Tā dǎ yóuxì yīzhí dǎ dào tā māma huí jiā.He didn't stop playing computer games until his mother came home.
• 我 邻居 吵架 一直 吵 到 警察 过来 。Wǒ línjū chǎojià yīzhí chǎo dào jǐngchá guòlái.My neighbors didn't end their fight until the police came.
• 我们 吃 火锅 吃 到 火锅店 关门 。Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī dào huǒguōdiàn guānmén.We were eating hotpot and we didn't finish until the 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 dào 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 boyfriend and they kept talking until her phone was out of battery.

See also

• Verbs with gei
• "Zai" following verbs
• Expressing "when" with "dengdao"
• Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao"

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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