“Until” in Chinese – 到 dào… 为止 wéizhǐ

Grammar Point:
到 dào… 為为止 wéizhǐ is a common structure for expressing ‘until’ in Chinese. Unlike English, where ‘until’ is a single word, Chinese uses 到 dào as a starting marker and 為为止 wéizhǐ as an endpoint, framing the time, condition, or event.

Structure

到 dào + Time/Event/Action + (為为止 wéizhǐ)

為为止 wéizhǐ is optional, but adding it makes the expression more formal and emphasizes the endpoint of the action, especially in written or official contexts.

到dào目前mùqián為止wéizhǐ， 我們wǒmen已經yǐjīng完成wánchéng了le80% 的de工作gōngzuò到dào目前mùqián为止wéizhǐ， 我们wǒmen已经yǐjīng完成wánchéng了le80% 的de工作gōngzuò
Until now, we have completed 80% of the work.

這zhè次cì活動huódòng會huì持續chíxù到dào下個月xiàgeyuè為止wéizhǐ这zhè次cì活动huódòng会huì持续chíxù到dào下个月xiàgeyuè为止wéizhǐ
This event will last until next month.

你nǐ需要xūyào每天měitiān學習xuéxí， 直到zhídào你nǐ考過kǎoguòHSK6 為止wéizhǐ你nǐ需要xūyào每天měitiān学习xuéxí， 直到zhídào你nǐ考过kǎoguòHSK6 为止wéizhǐ
You need to study every day until you pass HSK6.

我wǒ會huì在zài這裡zhèlǐ等děng到dào天黑tiānhēi為止wéizhǐ我wǒ会huì在zài这里zhèlǐ等děng到dào天黑tiānhēi为止wéizhǐ
I will wait here until it gets dark.

她tā會huì一直yìzhí嘗試chángshì到dào成功chénggōng為止wéizhǐ她tā会huì一直yìzhí尝试chángshì到dào成功chénggōng为止wéizhǐ
She will keep trying until she succeeds.

他tā會huì堅持jiānchí到dào找zhǎo到dào答案dáàn為止wéizhǐ他tā会huì坚持jiānchí到dào找zhǎo到dào答案dáàn为止wéizhǐ
He will persist until he finds the answer.

我wǒ會huì愛ài你nǐ愛ài到dào生命shēngmìng結束jiéshù為止wéizhǐ我wǒ会huì爱ài你nǐ爱ài到dào生命shēngmìng结束jiéshù为止wéizhǐ 😎
I will love you until my life ends.

Common Phrase

到此為为止 dàocǐwéizhǐ

到此為为止 dàocǐwéizhǐ is a fixed expression meaning “to stop here”, “to end at this point”, or “no further”. It emphasizes that something will not continue beyond this moment.

我們wǒmen的de合作hézuò就jiù到此為止dàocǐwéizhǐ吧ba我们wǒmen的de合作hézuò就jiù到此为止dàocǐwéizhǐ吧ba
Our cooperation ends here.

你們nǐmen不要búyào再zài吵chǎo了le， 這zhè件jiàn事shì到此為止dàocǐwéizhǐ！ 你们nǐmen不要búyào再zài吵chǎo了le， 这zhè件jiàn事shì到此为止dàocǐwéizhǐ！
Stop arguing! This matter ends here!