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Level

[B1](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/B1_grammar_points)

Similar to

- [Using "dao" to mean "to go to"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Using_%22dao%22_to_mean_%22to_go_to%22) (A2)

Used for

[Expressing result](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_result), [Describing actions](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Describing_actions)

Keywords

[到](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%88%B0), [一直](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E4%B8%80%E7%9B%B4)

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One kind of [complement](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complement) in Chinese involves putting 到 after the verb. 到 (dào) is used to indicate that the action has obtained a goal or a certain state.

Contents -------- [hide]([# "wikilink")\]

- [1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")

Structure ---------------------------------------------------------

Verb (+ 一直) + 到 + Time / Event

You will sometimes see 一直 (yīzhí) proceeding 到, which serves the purpose of the emphasis on the "ongoing duration." Note that the verbs are mostly single-syllable verb. Examples -------------------------------------------------------

- 你们要玩 *到* 几点？Nǐmen yào wán *dào* jǐ diǎn?When will you be done playing? - 我们在酒吧 **一直** 聊 *到* 半夜。Wǒmen zài jiǔbā **yīzhí** liáo *dào* bànyè.We were chatting in the bar until midnight. - 你弟弟要在我们家住 *到* 什么时候？Nǐ dìdi yào zài wǒmen jiā zhù *dào* shénme shíhou?How much longer is your younger brother going to stay in our house? - 昨天的会 **一直** 开 *到* 晚上九点。Zuótiān de huì **yīzhí** kāi *dào* wǎnshang jiǔ diǎn.Yesterday's meeting lasted until 9 pm. - 我邻居今天吵架了，**一直** 吵 *到* 警察过来。Wǒ línjū jīntiān chǎojià le, **yīzhí** chǎo *dào* jǐngchá guòlái.My neighbors had a fight today, which lasted until the police came. - 我们晚上去吃火锅了，**一直** 吃 *到* 火锅店关门。Wǒmen wǎnshang qù chī huǒguō le, **yīzhí** chī *dào* huǒguō diàn guānmén.We went to eat hotpot tonight, and we didn't finish until the place was closed. - 他昨天一天都在打游戏，**一直** 打 *到* 他妈妈回家。Tā zuótiān yī tiān dōu zài dǎ yóuxì, **yīzhí** dǎ *dào* tā māma huí jiā.He was playing computer games all day yesterday. He didn't stop until his mother came home.

If the is a verb phrase proceeding 到, use this structure:

\[Verb Phrase\] (+ 一直) + Verb + 到 + Time / Event

Some examples:

- 你知不知道我们 **等你** 等 *到* 半夜？Nǐ zhī bu zhīdào wǒmen **děng nǐ** děng *dào* bànyè?Do you know we waited for you until midnight? - 我女儿昨天晚上 **写作业** 写 *到* 十二点半。Wǒ nǚ'ér zuótiān wǎnshang **xiě zuòyè** xiě *dào* shí'èr diǎn bàn.My daughter didn't finish her homework until 12:30 last night. - 她给男朋友 **打电话** 打 *到* 手机没电。Tā gěi nánpéngyou **dǎ diànhuà** dǎ *dào* shǒujī méi diàn.She called her boyfriend and they kept talking until her phone was out of battery.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Verbs with gei](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Verbs_with_gei) - [Expressing "from… to…" with "cong… dao…"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22from%E2%80%A6_to%E2%80%A6%22_with_%22cong%E2%80%A6_dao%E2%80%A6%22) - ["Zai" following verbs](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%22Zai%22_following_verbs) - [Expressing "when" with "dengdao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22when%22_with_%22dengdao%22) - [Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22all_the_way_until%22_with_%22zhidao%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [New Practical Chinese Reader 2 (新实用汉语课本2)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_2_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC2)) (pp. 240) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561911297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561911297) - [Chinese Grammar Without Tears (简明汉语语法学习手册)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Chinese_Grammar_Without_Tears_(%E7%AE%80%E6%98%8E%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%AD%E6%B3%95%E5%AD%A6%E4%B9%A0%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8C)) (pp. 93-95) \[ →buy\]

[Category](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Special:Categories): - [B1 grammar points](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Category:B1_grammar_points)

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