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Level

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

Similar to

- [Complement with "dao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complement_with_%22dao%22) (B1) - [Expressing "all the way until" with "zhidao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22all_the_way_until%22_with_%22zhidao%22) (B1)

Used for

[Expressing time and date](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_time_and_date)

Keywords

[等到](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%AD%89%E5%88%B0), [等](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%AD%89), [到](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%88%B0), [就](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%B0%B1), [再](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%86%8D), [才](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E6%89%8D)

Translations

[when](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/When), [until](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Until)

[![Chinese-grammar-wiki－deng.jpg](Expressing%20%22when%22%20with%20%22dengdao%22%20-%20Chinese%20Grammar%20Wiki_fichiers/300px-Chinese-grammar-wikideng.jpg "fig:Chinese-grammar-wiki－deng.jpg"){width="300" height="300"}](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/File:Chinese-grammar-wiki%EF%BC%8Ddeng.jpg)

The word 等到 (děngdào) can trip up learners, because while it can literally mean "wait until," it also has the less literal translation meaning "when (the time comes)" or "by the time." This is a pattern that appears in complex sentences, with 等到 acting as a [conjunction](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Conjunction) and appearing in the first part as the first word in the sentence.

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

- [1 Used for the Future](#Used_for_the_Future "wikilink") - [1.1 Structure](#Structure "wikilink") - [1.2 Examples](#Examples "wikilink") - [2 Used for the Past](#Used_for_the_Past "wikilink") - [2.1 Structure](#Structure_2 "wikilink") - [2.2 Examples](#Examples_2 "wikilink") - [3 See also](#See_also "wikilink") - [4 Sources and further reading](#Sources_and_further_reading "wikilink") - [4.1 Books](#Books "wikilink")

Used for the Future ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

等(到) + Time / Event ，Subj. + 再 / 就 + Predicate

The [predicate](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Predicate) part of the pattern can be a verb or an adjective. ### Examples

- *等到* 你感觉不舒服 **就** 晚了。*Děngdào* nǐ gǎnjué bù shūfu **jiù** wǎn le.It will be too late when you start feeling not well. - *等* 雨停了我 **再** 出门。*Děng* yǔ tíng le wǒ **zài** chūmén.When the rain stops, then I will go outside. - *等到* 秋天，这些树叶 **就** 会变黄。*Děngdào* qiūtiān, zhèxiē shùyè **jiù** huì biàn huáng.When it is autumn, the leaves will have already become yellow. - *等* 做完这个项目，我 **就** 休假。*Děng* zuò wán zhège xiàngmù, wǒ **jiù** xiūjià.I will take a vacation when I complete doing this project. - *等到* 老板签了字，我 **再** 做安排。*Děngdào* lǎobǎn qiān le zì, wǒ **zài** zuò ānpái.I will make arrangements when the boss signs the paper.

Used for the Past ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Structure

等(到) + Time / Event ，Subj. + 才 + Predicate

### Examples

- *等* 我回了家，**才** 发现手机忘在了出租车上。*Děng* wǒ huí le jiā, **cái** fāxiàn shǒujī wàng zài le chūzūchē shàng.I didn't realize I left my cellphone in the taxi until I got home. - *等到* 孩子上了小学，她 **才** 开始工作。*Děngdào* háizi shàng le xiǎoxué, tā **cái** kāishǐ gōngzuò.She didn't start working until her children went to elementary school. - *等* 学生都安静了，老师 **才** 开始上课。*Děng* xuéshēng dōu ānjìng le, lǎoshī **cái** kāishǐ shàngkè.The teacher didn't begin the class until the students all became quiet. - *等* 他有了孩子，**才** 知道做父母多么不容易。*Děng* tā yǒu le háizi, **cái** zhīdào zuò fùmǔ duōme bù róngyì.It wasn't until he had a child that he realized how hard it is to be a parent. - *等到* 他到家了，**才** 发现他没有带钥匙。*Děngdào* tā de le áizhèng, **cái** yìshí dào jiànkāng yǒu duō bǎoguì.It wasn't until he got home that he found that he didn't have his keys.

See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Complement with "dao"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complement_with_%22dao%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 \ \

[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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