Chinese Grammar | How to use 到(dào) in Chinese – Three usages explained

Summary

It’s true, certain usages of the word “到” could be rather confusing, or intimidating, even. But join us today where plenty of examples are given to help you master this word. Plus, you will have a chance to check your understanding by the end of today’s episode. Come, challenge awaits!

See below for a digital copy of today’s handout. 

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🎥 Reference videos
● A City of Joyousness 不再悲情的城市: A Day Trip to Jiufen 九份小旅行 | https://youtu.be/J7L6suMb9FE
● Fun facts about Japanese shrines: A local shrine tour 近所の神社ツアー | https://youtu.be/e3avOlS9Ro8
● TTC 2:【Chinese Episode】不 & 沒 | What’s the difference? | https://youtu.be/SiBFbZcinpw | *Or wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts

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🎶 BGM
● BGM: Cold Ears-Come Inside Mix by J. Lang (c) copyright 2019 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/djlang59/59577 Ft: Stefan Kartenberg & Nickolas Nikolic, Mindmapthat

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©️ This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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Derivative work from photo by Esperanza Doronila on Unsplash

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Transcript of sample audio clips

1. Usage 1
   它會通往這一區的最高點【到】九份國小的門口 / 它会通往这一区的最高点【到】九份国小的门口 _{(tā huì tōng wǎng zhè yī qū de zuì gāo diǎn dào jiǔ fèn guó xiǎo de mén kǒu)}
   
2. Usage 2
   我們都很喜歡來這邊吃很受歡迎的小吃、【到】茶館喝茶、還有欣賞漂亮的景色 / 我们都很喜欢来这边吃很受欢迎的小吃、【到】茶馆喝茶、还有欣赏漂亮的景色
   _{(wǒ men dōu hěn xǐ huān lái zhè biān chī hěn shòu huān yíng de xiǎo chī 、dào chá guǎn hē chá 、hái yǒu xīn shǎng piāo liàng de jǐng sè)}
   
3. Usage 3
   這邊你可以【看到】路旁都會有停車位 / 这边你可以【看到】路旁都会有停车位
   _{(zhè biān nǐ kě yǐ 【kàn dào 】lù páng dōu huì yǒu tíng chē wèi)}

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💠Usages of 到(dào)

1. VERB: to arrive at/in a place or time

到 + time/place
● 我剛到辦公室/我刚到办公室。_{(wǒ gāng dào bàn gōng shì)}
= I just arrived at my office.
● 從台北搭飛機到東京要幾個小時？从台北搭飞机到东京要几个小时？
_{(cóng tái běi dā fēi jī dào dōng jīng yào jǐ gè xiǎo shí)}
= How many hours does it take to fly from Taipei to Tokyo?
● 我到(了)25歲才學會開車/我到(了)25岁才学会开车。_{(wǒ dào (le) 25suì cái xué huì kāi chē)}
= I didn’t learn to drive until I was 25.
【Mai’s sentence】
○ Context – asking for a restaurant’s business hours
你們從幾點營業到幾點？你们从几点营业到几点？ _{(nǐ men cóng jǐ diǎn yíng yè dào jǐ diǎn)}
○ Other alternatives:
你們的營業時間是(從)幾點到幾點？你们的营业时间是(从)几点到几点？
_{(nǐ men de yíng yè shí jiān shì (cóng) jǐ diǎn dào jǐ diǎn)}

2. VERB: to arrive at/in a place or time

Subj. + 到 + Place (+ Verb Phrase)
● 你要到哪兒/裡(去)。你要到哪儿/里(去)？= 你要去哪兒？你要去哪儿？ _{(nǐ yào dào nǎ ér / lǐ (qù ))}
= Where are you going?
● 我要到學校(去)。我要到学校(去)。_{(wǒ yào dào xué xiào (qù ))}
= I’m going to (the) school.
= 我要去學校。我要去学校。_{(wǒ yào qù xué xiào)}
● 我要到學校借書。我要到学校借书。_{(wǒ yào dào xué xiào jiè shū)}
= I’m going to the school to borrow a book.
● 下個月我要到歐洲(去)旅行/下个月我要到欧洲(去)旅行。_{(xià gè yuè wǒ yào dào ōu zhōu (qù )lǚ háng)}
= 下個月我要去歐洲旅行/下个月我要去欧洲旅行。
= I’m going on a trip to Europe next month.
【Mai’s sentence】
○ Context – a plan for visiting a friend this weekend
這個週末我要到台灣見我朋友。这个周末我要到台湾见我朋友。
_{(zhè gè zhōu mò wǒ yào dào tái wān jiàn wǒ péng yǒu)}

3. VERB COMPLEMENT (also known as “RESULT COMPLEMENT”):
_{to complement the verb it follows and imply that the action (of this verb) has attained its expected result}

(1) Affirmation: Subj. + Verb + 到 + Obj. (了)
● 他去買咖啡，然後他買到了。他去买咖啡，然后他买到了。_{(tā qù mǎi kā fēi ，rán hòu tā mǎi dào le)}
He went to buy coffee, and then he got it.
● 有些人放假的時候要回(到)很遠的家鄉。有些人放假的时候要回(到)很远的家乡。
_{(yǒu xiē rén fàng jiǎ de shí hòu yào huí (dào) hěn yuǎn de jiā xiāng)}
Some had to go back to their home town miles away during holidays.
● 我找了，但沒找到我的手錶/我找了，但没找到我的手表。
_{(wǒ zhǎo le ，dàn méi zhǎo dào wǒ de shǒu biǎo /wǒ zhǎo le ，dàn méi zhǎo dào wǒ de shǒu biǎo 。)}
I looked (for it), but I didn’t find my watch.
● 你可以看到下面有很多很蜿蜒的路。_{(nǐ kě yǐ kàn dào xià miàn yǒu hěn duō hěn wān yán de lù 。)}
You can see the winding roads down there.
【Mai’s sentence】
○ Context – moved(搬；搬家) to a new place
我搬(家)到東京了。我搬(家)到东京了。_{(wǒ bān dào dōng jīng le)}

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💠Let’s practice in contexts

Try making a meaningful sentence with the word 到.

1. to put the book into your backpack(背包) ⇒ ?
2. to go to a restaurant(餐廳/餐厅) to have a meal ⇒ ?
3. to think 想 ⇒ I thought of an idea(點子/点子). ⇒ ?
4. to listen 聽/听 ⇒ I heard my mom’s voice(聲音/声音). ⇒ ?
5. to borrow 借 ⇒ I got the book (that I wanted to borrow). ⇒ ?

🅰️ Go to the next page for model answers…… Go ➡️

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