Meanings of 直到
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Podcast: 直到
Podcast: 直到
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AI Study Notes for 直到
Be careful not to confuse 直到 with 直到…才 (zhídào...cái), which implies that something only happens after a condition is met. This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in casual speech.
While 直到 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners at HSK 3 and above as it helps to form complex sentences. Focus on practicing its use in different contexts to master its meaning.
Learners often omit the second character, saying '我等到五点' instead of '我等直到五点.' The first is incorrect because it lacks the necessary context provided by 直到.
Pronunciation of 直到
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Component Characters
How to say until in Chinese
“until” in Chinese is直到
直到 (zhí dào) means 'until' or 'up to' in English. It is used to indicate a time or condition that continues to a certain point. Commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese, it can connect clauses to show a limit or endpoint.
When to use 直到
Be careful not to confuse 直到 with 直到…才 (zhídào...cái), which implies that something only happens after a condition is met. This phrase can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is more common in casual speech.
What learners get wrong
Learners often omit the second character, saying '我等到五点' instead of '我等直到五点.' The first is incorrect because it lacks the necessary context provided by 直到.
Write 直到
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Practice writing 直到 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Usage Notes for 直到
直到 is used to indicate a point in time or an event that something continues up to or until it happens. It can also imply that the action or state is ongoing until that point.
我一直等到他来了。
I waited until he came.
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Frequently Asked Questions about 直到
You can say, '我会等你直到五点。' (Wǒ huì děng nǐ zhídào wǔ diǎn.) which means 'I will wait for you until 5 o'clock.'
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