ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A2/53.mw

{{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 ===

<div class="jiegou">

从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2

</div>

The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can be any event or action.

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">

* <em>从</em> 2004 年 <em>到</em> 2008 年<span class="pinyin"><em>cóng</em> èr-líng-líng-sì nián <em>dào</em> èr-líng-líng-bā nián</span><span class="trans">from 2004 to 2008</span>
* <em>从</em> 一号 <em>到</em> 五号 都 在 下雨。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> yī hào <em>dào</em> wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ.</span><span class="trans">From the first to the fifth, it's been raining non-stop.</span>
*老板 <em>从</em> 周二 <em>到</em> 周五 都 要 出差。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <em>cóng</em> Zhōuèr <em>dào</em> Zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi.</span><span class="trans">From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.</span>
*她 <em>从</em> 18岁 <em>到</em> 现在 都 一个人 住。<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>cóng</em> shíbā suì <em>dào</em> xiànzài dōu yīgèrén zhù.</span><span class="trans">She's lived alone since she was 18 until now.</span>
*你 不 能 <em>从</em> 早 <em>到</em> 晚 不 吃 东西。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ bù néng <em>cóng</em> zǎo <em>dào</em> wǎn bù chī dōngxi.</span><span class="trans">You can't eat nothing from morning to night.</span>

</div>

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===

<div class="jiegou">

从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2

</div>

===Examples===

<div class="liju">

* <em>从</em> 南京 西 路 <em>到</em> 南京 东 路<span class="pinyin"><em>cóng</em> Nánjīng Xī Lù <em>dào</em>  Nánjīng Dōng Lù</span><span class="trans">from West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road</span>
* <em>从</em> 酒店 <em>到</em> 机场 不太 远。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> jiǔdiàn <em>dào</em> jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn.</span><span class="trans">From the hotel to the airport is not too far.</span>
* <em>从</em> 上海  <em>到</em> 北京 要 几 个 小时。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> Shànghǎi <em>dào</em> Běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí.</span><span class="trans">From Shanghai to Beijing it takes a few hours.</span>
* <em>从</em> 你 家 <em>到</em> 机场 可以 坐 地铁 吗？<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> nǐ jiā <em>dào</em> jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma? </span><span class="trans">From your place  to the airport, can I take the subway?</span>
* <em>从</em> 这里 <em>到</em> 我们 公司，你 会 看见 很 多 美女。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> zhèlǐ <em>dào</em> wǒmen gōngsī, nǐ huì kànjiàn hěn duō měinǚ.</span><span class="trans">From here to our company, you'll see many beautiful girls.</span>

</div>

== 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⋯⋯|<em>从</em>1 号 <em>到</em> 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}}