到…为止
HSK 6- Time
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
The structure 到…为止 indicates an action or state that continues until a specific point in time and then stops.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
The structure 到…为止 is used to set a clear time boundary, meaning "up until… and then stop" or "as of…". The element placed between 到 and 为止 can be a specific point in time (such as 今天, 下个月) or a clause describing an event (such as 你说停). This structure emphasizes that an action or state lasts only up to that exact point and no further.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 报名到下周一为止。繁: 報名到下週一為止。Bàomíng dào xià zhōu yī wéi zhǐ.
Registration will end next Monday.
- 到目前为止，一切都好。繁: 到目前為止，一切都好。Dào mùqián wéi zhǐ, yíqiè dōu hǎo.
So far, everything is fine.
- 到昨天为止，我还没收到他的回信。繁: 到昨天為止，我還沒收到他的回信。Dào zuótiān wéi zhǐ, wǒ hái méi shōudào tā de huíxìn.
As of yesterday, I still hadn't received his reply letter.
- 请到本月底为止完成这项工作。繁: 請到本月底為止完成這項工作。Qǐng dào běn yuèdǐ wéi zhǐ wánchéng zhè xiàng gōngzuò.
Please complete this work by the end of this month.
- 到你说停为止，我才会停。繁: 到你說停為止，我才會停。Dào nǐ shuō tíng wéi zhǐ, wǒ cái huì tíng.
I will only stop when you say to stop.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:到目前，一切都好。Correct:到目前为止，一切都好。
This is a fixed structure. To express the meaning "up to now," you must use the entire phrase `到目前为止`; you cannot omit `为止`.