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等到 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
等到děngdàoto wait untilHSK 4, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #5585, Medium
等到děngdàoby the time when (sth is ready etc)HSK 4, unknown, 20 strokes, rank #5585, Medium
děngdào(deng3dao4)deng dao T3
  1. 1to wait until
  2. 2by the time when (sth is ready etc)
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March 24, 2026

等到děngdào(deng3dao4)

The phrase '等到' means 'to wait until' or 'by the time when.' It is commonly used to indicate that one is waiting for a specific moment or event to occur before taking further action. This phrase is often used in both spoken and written Chinese to express anticipation or a deadline.

Strokes20Frequency#5585DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, patience and waiting are often valued, especially in contexts such as family gatherings or business negotiations. The phrase '等到' reflects the importance of timing in social interactions.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clock ticking as you wait for your favorite show to start. The characters '等' (deng) means 'to wait,' and '到' (dao) means 'to arrive.' Together, they visualize the idea of waiting for something to arrive at a specific time.

Meanings of 等到

děngdào(deng3dao4)
1to wait until
2by the time when (sth is ready etc)
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About 等到

等到Simplified
20Strokes
—Radical
介词jiècípreposition (prep.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL2YCTL3HSKKL1CEFRA1

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Podcast: 等到

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AI Study Notes for 等到

Quick Contrast

等到 (děngdào) vs 等 (děng) — use 等到 when specifying a particular moment to wait for, while 等 can be used more generally to indicate waiting without that specific temporal nuance.

Usage Notes

'等到' is often used in a temporal context, but learners should be cautious not to confuse it with simply '等' (wait) which lacks the connotation of a specific endpoint. It is generally informal but can be used in more formal contexts when discussing timelines.

HSK Study Tips

While '等到' may not be a specific HSK vocabulary word, it connects to HSK Level 3 and 4 words related to time and action, such as '时间' (time) and '开始' (to start). Focus on mastering its usage in sentences to express future events.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse '等到' with '等,' leading to phrases like '我等' (I wait), which lacks specificity. Instead, use '我等到' (I wait until) to convey the complete thought.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 等到

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Component Characters

等děngclass
HSK 212 strokes⺮
View full entry
到dàoto (a place)
HSK 18 strokes刂
View full entry

How to say to wait until in Chinese

“to wait until” in Chinese is等到děngdào

The phrase '等到' means 'to wait until' or 'by the time when.' It is commonly used to indicate that one is waiting for a specific moment or event to occur before taking further action. This phrase is often used in both spoken and written Chinese to express anticipation or a deadline.

When to use 等到

'等到' is often used in a temporal context, but learners should be cautious not to confuse it with simply '等' (wait) which lacks the connotation of a specific endpoint. It is generally informal but can be used in more formal contexts when discussing timelines.

等到 or something close to it

等到 (děngdào) vs 等 (děng) — use 等到 when specifying a particular moment to wait for, while 等 can be used more generally to indicate waiting without that specific temporal nuance.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse '等到' with '等,' leading to phrases like '我等' (I wait), which lacks specificity. Instead, use '我等到' (I wait until) to convey the complete thought.

Write 等到

等
到

Practice writing 等到 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 等到

Yes, you can use '等到' for various events, but make sure that the event has a specific endpoint or time.

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