Expressing "until" with "dao"

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 + 到 + Time / Event

Examples

  • 我们 一直 等 天黑 。Wǒmen yīzhí děng dào tiānhēi.We waited until it was getting dark.
  • 你 弟弟 要 在 我们 家 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 几 点 ?Nǐmen yào wán dào dào jǐ diǎn?When will you be done playing?
  • 今天 的 会 一直 开 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 半夜 。Wǒmen zài jiǔbā yīzhí liáo dào bànyè.We were chatting in the bar til midnight.
  • 宝宝 一直 哭 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 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 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 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

Sources and further reading

Books

HSK4