Difference between revisions of "Expressing "until" with "dao""

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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.  
 
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 Single Verb ==
+
== Structure ==
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable verb.
 
Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable verb.
  
=== Examples ===
+
== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*我们 <strong>一直</strong> 等 <em>到</em> 天黑 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>yīzhí</strong> děng <em>dào</em> tiān hēi.</span><span class="trans">We waited until it was getting dark.</span>
 
 
*你们 要 玩 <em>到</em> 几 点 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào wán <em>dào</em> jǐ diǎn?</span><span class="trans">When will you be done playing?</span>
 
*你们 要 玩 <em>到</em> 几 点 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen yào wán <em>dào</em> jǐ diǎn?</span><span class="trans">When will you be done playing?</span>
 
*我们 在 酒吧 <strong>一直</strong> 聊 <em>到</em> 半夜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài jiǔbā <strong>yīzhí</strong> liáo <em>dào</em> bànyè.</span><span class="trans">We were chatting in the bar until midnight.</span>
 
*我们 在 酒吧 <strong>一直</strong> 聊 <em>到</em> 半夜 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài jiǔbā <strong>yīzhí</strong> liáo <em>dào</em> bànyè.</span><span class="trans">We were chatting in the bar until midnight.</span>
 
*你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 <em>到</em> 什么 时候 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ dìdi yào zài wǒmen jiā zhù <em>dào</em> shénme shíhou?</span><span class="trans">How much longer is your younger brother going to stay in our house?</span>
 
*你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 <em>到</em> 什么 时候 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ dìdi yào zài wǒmen jiā zhù <em>dào</em> shénme shíhou?</span><span class="trans">How much longer is your younger brother going to stay in our house?</span>
 
*昨天 的 会 <strong>一直</strong> 开 <em>到</em> 晚上 九点 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān de huì <strong>yīzhí</strong> kāi <em>dào</em> wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm.</span>
 
*昨天 的 会 <strong>一直</strong> 开 <em>到</em> 晚上 九点 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān de huì <strong>yīzhí</strong> kāi <em>dào</em> wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm.</span>
 +
*我 邻居 今天 吵架 了 ,<strong>一直</strong> 吵 <em>到</em> 警察 过来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ línjū jīntiān chǎojià le, <strong>yīzhí</strong> chǎo <em>dào</em> jǐngchá guòlái.</span><span class="trans">My neighbors had a fight today, which lasted until the police came.</span>
 +
*我们 吃 <em>到</em> 火锅店 关门 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī  <em>dào</em> huǒguōdiàn guānmén.</span><span class="trans">We were eating hotpot and we didn't finish until the place was closed.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Used with Verb-Obj. ==
+
If the is a verb phrase before 到, use this structure:
 
 
=== Structure ===
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Verb + Obj. (+ 一直) + Verb + 到 + Time / Event
+
[Verb Phrase] (+ 一直) + Verb + 到 + Time / Event
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*他 打游戏 <strong>一直</strong> <em>到</em> 他 妈妈 回家 。<span class="pinyin">Tā dǎ yóuxì <strong>yīzhí</strong> dǎ <em>dào</em> tā māma huí jiā.</span><span class="trans">He didn't stop playing computer games until his mother came home.</span>
+
*你 知不知道 我们 <strong>等 你</strong> <em>到</em> 半夜 ?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhī bu zhīdào wǒmen děng <em>dào</em> bànyè?</span><span class="trans">Do you know we waited for you until midnight?</span>
*我 邻居 吵架 <strong>一直</strong> 吵 <em>到</em> 警察 过来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ línjū chǎojià <strong>yīzhí</strong> chǎo <em>dào</em> jǐngchá guòlái.</span><span class="trans">My neighbors didn't end their fight until the police came.</span>
+
*他 打游戏 打 <em>到</em> 他 妈妈 回家 。<span class="pinyin">Tā dǎ yóuxì <strong>yīzhí</strong> <em>dào</em> tā māma huí jiā.</span><span class="trans">He didn't stop playing computer games until his mother came home.</span>
*我们 吃 火锅 吃 <em>到</em> 火锅店 关门 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen chī huǒguō chī  <em>dào</em> huǒguōdiàn guānmén.</span><span class="trans">We were eating hotpot and we didn't finish until the place was closed.</span>
 
 
*我 女儿 昨天 晚上 写作业 写 <em>到</em> 十二 点 半 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚ'ér zuótiān wǎnshang xiě zuòyè xiě <em>dào</em> shí'èr diǎn bàn.</span><span class="trans">My daughter didn't finish her homework until 12:30 last night.</span>
 
*我 女儿 昨天 晚上 写作业 写 <em>到</em> 十二 点 半 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ nǚ'ér zuótiān wǎnshang xiě zuòyè xiě <em>dào</em> shí'èr diǎn bàn.</span><span class="trans">My daughter didn't finish her homework until 12:30 last night.</span>
 
*她 给 男朋友 打 电话 <strong>一直</strong> 打 <em>到</em> 手机 没 电 。<span class="pinyin">Tā gěi nánpéngyou dǎ diànhuà <strong>yīzhí</strong> dǎ <em>dào</em> shǒujī méi diàn.</span><span class="trans">She called her boyfriend and they kept talking until her phone was out of battery.</span>
 
*她 给 男朋友 打 电话 <strong>一直</strong> 打 <em>到</em> 手机 没 电 。<span class="pinyin">Tā gěi nánpéngyou dǎ diànhuà <strong>yīzhí</strong> dǎ <em>dào</em> shǒujī méi diàn.</span><span class="trans">She called her boyfriend and they kept talking until her phone was out of battery.</span>
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|到|B1|Verb + 到 + Time / Event|我 昨天 晚上 工作 <em>到</em> 十二 点 半。|grammar point|ASG1CCAP}}
+
{{Basic Grammar|到|B1|Verb + 到 + Time / Event|我 昨天 晚上 工作 <em>到</em> 十二 点 半 。|grammar point|ASG1CCAP}}
 
{{Rel char|一直}}
 
{{Rel char|一直}}
 
{{Similar|To go to a place}}
 
{{Similar|To go to a place}}

Revision as of 04:56, 22 February 2018

Chinese-grammar-wiki-dao.jpg

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 (+ 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."

Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable verb.

Examples

  • 你们 要 玩 几 点 ?Nǐmen yào wán dào jǐ diǎn?When will you be done playing?
  • 我们 在 酒吧 一直 半夜 。Wǒmen zài jiǔbā yīzhí liáo dào bànyè.We were chatting in the bar until midnight.
  • 你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 住 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?
  • 昨天 的 会 一直 晚上 九点 。Zuótiān de huì yīzhí kāi dào wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm.
  • 我 邻居 今天 吵架 了 ,一直 警察 过来 。Wǒ línjū jīntiān chǎojià le, yīzhí chǎo dào jǐngchá guòlái.My neighbors had a fight today, which lasted until the police came.
  • 我们 吃 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.

If the is a verb phrase before 到, use this structure:

[Verb Phrase] (+ 一直) + Verb + 到 + Time / Event

Examples

  • 你 知不知道 我们 等 你 半夜 ?Nǐ zhī bu zhīdào wǒmen děng dào bànyè?Do you know we waited for you until midnight?
  • 他 打游戏 打 他 妈妈 回家 。Tā dǎ yóuxì yīzhídào tā māma huí jiā.He didn't stop playing computer games until his mother came home.
  • 我 女儿 昨天 晚上 写作业 写 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 手机 没 电 。Tā gěi nánpéngyou dǎ diànhuà yīzhídào shǒujī méi diàn.She called her boyfriend and they kept talking until her phone was out of battery.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4