到
HSK 2- Location
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Preposition 到 is used to indicate the endpoint of an action, both in space (to where) and in time (until when).
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
Use 到 after a verb to express that an action has reached a specific place or point in time. It is equivalent to "until" or "to/up to" in English.
When referring to space: 走到学校 (walk to school). When referring to time: 学到三点 (study until 3 o'clock). This structure is very useful for expressing the endpoint of an action.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他跑到学校了。繁: 他跑到學校了。Tā pǎo dào xuéxiào le.
He ran to school.
- 我们学到晚上十点。繁: 我們學到晚上十點。Wǒmen xué dào wǎnshang shí diǎn.
We studied until ten o'clock in the evening.
- 飞机什么时候到上海？繁: 飛機什麼時候到上海？Fēijī shénme shíhou dào Shànghǎi?
When does the airplane arrive in Shanghai?
- 请你送到门口。繁: 請你送到門口。Qǐng nǐ sòng dào ménkǒu.
Please see me to the door.
- 从我家到公司要半小时。繁: 從我家到公司要半小時。Cóng wǒ jiā dào gōngsī yào bàn xiǎoshí.
It takes half an hour to get from my home to the company.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:我到公司走路。Correct:我走路到公司。
The main verb (走路) must come before 到 + location. The structure is 'do something' then 'arrive at a place'.
- Wrong:我学习到。Correct:我学习到很晚。
After 到, there must be a specific location or time. 到 cannot stand alone as a complement.