Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 直到
The word “直到” (zhídào) in Chinese expresses the concept of “until” and is used to indicate an endpoint for an action, state, or condition.
It frequently pairs with other words like “为止” (wéizhǐ) and “才” (cái).
CONTINUED ACTION
This use describes an action or state that persists until a particular condition or result is achieved.
It emphasizes the continuity of the action/state and the endpoint, often reinforced with “为止” (wéizhǐ) to emphasize the definitive conclusion.
PATTERN
Action/State + 直到 + Condition/Result + 为止
KEY NOTES || The action/state is ongoing.
“为止” strengthens the idea of “until the endpoint is reached.”
| 她一直跑步，直到累得站不住为止。 | Tā yīzhí pǎobù, zhídào lèi de zhàn bù zhù wéizhǐ. | She kept running until she was too tired to stand. |
| 他画了几遍，直到画得像真的一样为止。 | Tā huàle jǐ biàn, zhídào huà de xiàng zhēn de yīyàng wéizhǐ. | He drew it several times until it looked real. |
| 她不停地讲，直到所有人都明白为止。 | Tā bùtíng de jiǎng, zhídào suǒyǒu rén dōu míngbái wéizhǐ. | She kept explaining until everyone understood. |
DELAYED ACTION
This structure emphasizes that the main action does not occur until the specified time or condition is met.
The phrase “才” indicates that the event happens later than expected or after a delay.
PATTERN
直到 + Time/Condition + 才 + Main Action
| 他直到深夜才完成工作。 | Tā zhídào shēnyè cái wánchéng gōngzuò. | He didn’t finish his work until late at night. |
| 我们直到演唱会结束才离开。 | Wǒmen zhídào yǎnchàng huì jiéshù cái líkāi. | We didn’t leave until the concert was over. |
| 她直到大雨停了才走出家门。 | Tā zhídào dàyǔ tíngle cái zǒuchū jiāmén. | She didn’t go out of the house until the heavy rain stopped. |
NATURAL OR SIMPLE END POINT
In this usage, “直到” indicates a natural endpoint or a point in time/condition when something stops or ends.
It’s used to express that the action continues up to a certain time or point, but there’s no need to suggest any delay or completion of a task.
The action simply stops when it reaches this natural endpoint (Therefore, there’s often no need for “为止” or “才”).
PATTERN
Action + 直到 + Time/Condition
| 她跑得很快，直到看见警察。 | Tā pǎo de hěn kuài, zhídào kànjiàn jǐngchá. | She ran quickly until she saw the police. |
| 我们玩得很开心，直到太阳下山。 | Wǒmen wán de hěn kāixīn, zhídào tàiyáng xiàshān. | We played happily until the sun set. |
| 他站在窗前，直到看到她的身影。 | Tā zhàn zài chuāng qián, zhídào kàn dào tā de shēnyǐng. | He stood by the window until he saw her figure. |
COMPARISON OF 直到 WITH 一直
• 直到 (zhídào): Indicates “up to” or “until” a specific point in time or condition. Often describes a process that continues until an endpoint.
• 一直 (yīzhí): Describes the continuation of an action or state. It does not inherently specify an endpoint but emphasises continuity or persistence.
| 直到 | 一直 | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Endpoint (time or condition) | Continuity of action/state |
| Grammar | Often used with a condition or result | Typically describes ongoing action |
| Translation | “untill”, “till” | “untill”, “kept”, “always” |
Usage and Comparison with Examples
| 她等我直到我到家才离开。 | Tā děng wǒ zhídào wǒ dào jiā cái líkāi. | She didn’t leave until I got home. |
| 她一直等到我到家才离开。 | Tā yīzhí děng dào wǒ dào jiā cái líkāi. | She waited for me until I got home before leaving. |
| 他直到大学毕业才明白父母的苦心。 | Tā zhídào dàxué bìyè cái míngbái fùmǔ de kǔxīn. | He didn’t understand his parents’ efforts until he graduated college. |
| 他一直努力学习，为了实现梦想。 | Tā yīzhí nǔlì xuéxí, wèile shíxiàn mèngxiǎng. | He kept studying hard to achieve his dreams. |
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FAQs
What does 直到 mean in Chinese?
直到 means “until” and is used to describe the time or condition up to which an action continues.
How is 直到 used in a sentence?
直到 usually introduces the end point of an action or state, as in 他直到晚上才回来 (tā zhídào wǎnshàng cái huílái), meaning “He didn’t come back until the evening.”
Can 直到 be used with both time and conditions?
Yes, 直到 can refer to specific times (直到八点, “until 8 o’clock”) or conditions (直到问题解决, “until the problem is solved”).
Is there a difference between 直到 and just 到?
到 simply indicates reaching a point, while 直到 emphasizes the continuation of an action or state until that point.
Can 直到 be followed by verbs or just nouns?
直到 can be followed by both verbs and nouns, as in 直到结束 (zhídào jiéshù, “until the end”) or 直到我们完成 (zhídào wǒmen wánchéng, “until we finish”).
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