From A to B – 從 cóng and 到 dào

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, the word 從从 cóng can be used as a preposition to indicate the origin or starting point of something. It is often translated as “from” in English.

Structure

從从 cóng + place or time

你nǐ從cóng哪裡nǎlǐ來lái？ 你nǐ从cóng哪里nǎlǐ来lái？
Where are you from?

我wǒ從cóng台灣Táiwān來lái我wǒ从cóng台湾Táiwān来lái
I’m from Taiwan.

她tā從cóng八點bādiǎn開始kāishǐ上課shàngkè她tā从cóng八点bādiǎn开始kāishǐ上课shàngkè
She starts her class at eight o’clock.

我wǒ從cóng2010 年nián開始kāishǐ教jiāo中文zhōngwén我wǒ从cóng2010 年nián开始kāishǐ教jiāo中文zhōngwén
I have been teaching Chinese since 2010.

從从 cóng + place or time + 到 dào + place or time

The combination of 從从 cóng and 到 dào in Chinese is used to express the idea of “from…to…” or “from…until…”.

我wǒ從cóng家jiā走zǒu到dào學校xuéxiào我wǒ从cóng家jiā走zǒu到dào学校xuéxiào
I walk from home to school.

他tā從cóng早上zǎoshàng等děng到dào晚上wǎnshàng他tā从cóng早上zǎoshàng等děng到dào晚上wǎnshàng
He waited from morning until evening.

我wǒ從cóng台北táiběi飛fēi到dào上海shànghǎi我wǒ从cóng台北táiběi飞fēi到dào上海shànghǎi
I fly from Taipei to Shanghai.

我們wǒmen從cóng一月yīyuè到dào十二月shíèryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò我们wǒmen从cóng一月yīyuè到dào十二月shíèryuè都dōu在zài工作gōngzuò
We work from January to December.

從cóng你家nǐjiā到dào我家wǒjiā， 要yào走zǒu多久duōjiǔ？ 从cóng你家nǐjiā到dào我家wǒjiā， 要yào走zǒu多久duōjiǔ？
How long does it take to walk from your house to mine?