Basic Usage
Structure
Subj. + 不到 + Number + Measure Word(+ Noun)
Examples
- 我 女儿 还 不到 三 岁。Wǒ nǚ’ér hái bùdào sān suì.My daughter is still less than three years old.
- 我 昨天 睡 了 不到 五 个 小时 。Wǒ zuótiān shuì le bùdào wǔ gè xiǎoshí. Yesterday I slept for less than five hours.
- 这 件 衣服 花 了 不到 一百 块 。Zhè jiàn yīfu huā le bùdào yī bǎi kuài.This piece of clothing costs less than 100 RMB.
- 我 家 到 公司 不到 五百 米 。Wǒ jiā dào gōngsī bùdào wǔ bǎi mǐ.It is less than 500 meters from my house to the company.
- 在 美国,不到 21岁,不能 喝酒 。Zài Měiguó, bùdào èrshí-yī suì, bù néng hē jiǔ.In America, people less than 21 years old cannot drink alcohol.
Using 不到 with 就
Structure
"不到"放在一个时间点或者时间段前,后面跟"就"连用,表示某事发生得比一般情况要早。
Subj. + 不到 + Time Word + 就 + Verb + 了
Examples
- 他们 认识 不到 两 个 月 就 结婚 了 。Tāmen rènshi bùdào liǎng gè yuè jiù jiéhūn le.They've known each other for less than two months and are already married.
- 李 医生不到 55 岁 就 退休 了 。Lǐ yīshēng bùdào wǔshí-wǔ suìjiù tuìxiū le.Dr. Li is less than 55 years old and he already retired.
- 爷爷 不到 60 岁 就 去世 了。Yéye bùdào liùshí suì jiù qùshì le.My grandpa was less than 60 years old when he died.
- 你 回家 住 了 不到 一 个 星期 就 要 走 了?Nǐ huíjiā zhù le bùdào yī gè xīngqī jiù yào zǒu le?You went to live at home and moved out in less than a week?
- 老板 不到 30 岁 就 有 白 头发 了。Lǎobǎn bùdào sānshí suì jiù yǒu bái tóufa le.My boss is less than 30 years old and already has white hair showing on his head.
See Also
Category:**URGENT** Category:B1 grammar points