{{Grammar Box}} 从⋯⋯ 到⋯⋯(cóng... dào...) is used in the same way as "from... to..." is used in English, and can be used both for times and places. == Used for Times == To express from one time to another, the following structure is used: === Structure ===
从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2
The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can be any event or action. === Examples ===
* 从 2004 年 到 2008 年cóng èr-líng-líng-sì nián dào èr-líng-líng-bā niánfrom 2004 to 2008 * 从 一号 到 五号 都 在 下雨。Cóng yī hào dào wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ.From the first to the fifth, it's been raining non-stop. *老板 从 周二 到 周五 都 要 出差。Lǎobǎn cóng Zhōuèr dào Zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi.From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip. *她 从 18岁 到 现在 都 一个人 住。Tā cóng shíbā suì dào xiànzài dōu yīgèrén zhù.She's lived alone since she was 18 until now. *你 不 能 从 早 到 晚 不 吃 东西。Nǐ bù néng cóng zǎo dào wǎn bù chī dōngxi.You can't eat nothing from morning to night.
Remember that there are two options for the [[Time words and word order|word order of time words]]. == Used for Places == The same structure can also be used to express "from" one place "to" another. ===Structure===
从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2
===Examples===
* 从 南京 西 路 到 南京 东 路cóng Nánjīng Xī Lù dào Nánjīng Dōng Lùfrom West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road * 从 酒店 到 机场 不太 远。Cóng jiǔdiàn dào jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn.From the hotel to the airport is not too far. * 从 上海 到 北京 要 几 个 小时。Cóng Shànghǎi dào Běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí.From Shanghai to Beijing it takes a few hours. * 从 你 家 到 机场 可以 坐 地铁 吗？Cóng nǐ jiā dào jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? From your place to the airport, can I take the subway? * 从 这里 到 我们 公司，你 会 看见 很 多 美女。Cóng zhèlǐ dào wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěn duō měinǚ.From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls.
== See Also == * [[Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"]] * [[Using "dao" to mean "to go to"]] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 84-5) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy] * [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 112-3) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy] * [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 1 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (p. 89) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075294/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075294 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 2, Part 1]] (pp. 237-8) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276792/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276792 →buy] [[Category:A2 grammar points]] {{Used for|Giving directions}} {{Used for|Expressing distance}} {{Used for|Expressing duration}} {{Used for|Referring to the past}} {{Basic Grammar|从|A2|从⋯⋯到⋯⋯|从1 号 到 5 号 我 在 上海。|grammar point|ASGGGIW8}} {{Rel char|到}} {{Similar|"(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"}} {{Similar|To go to a place}} {{POS|Prepositions}} {{Translation|from}} {{Translation|to}}