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HSK 2.0 Level 5+ HSK 3.0 Level 6+ 5 min read

到...为止 for “Up To” and “Until”

Use 到……为止 to mark the end point of a time span, a total so far, or an action that continues until a goal is reached.

Pattern

到 + time / point / result + 为止

到……为止 draws a finish line: everything up to that point counts, and nothing after it.

到今天为止，我已经学了五百个汉字。

When to use 到...为止 for “Up To” and “Until”

Put the end point between 到 and 为止. It can be a time (到今天为止), a place in a task (到这儿为止) or a result (到记住为止).

到目前为止，报名的人已经有三十个了。

So far, thirty people have signed up.

我们要一直练习到完全记住为止。

We need to keep practicing until we remember it completely.

报名到这个星期五为止。

Sign-ups close this Friday.

今天我们就学到这儿为止吧。

Let’s stop our lesson here for today.

Common traps

  • Start with 到, not 从: 到目前为止, not 从目前为止.
  • 为止 is read wéi zhǐ, with a second-tone wéi.
  • Use 以来 for “since” (a start point) and 到……为止 for “up to” (an end point).

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

报名 这个星期五为止

Sign-ups close this Friday
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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