到 dào marks a destination: the place you go to or arrive at. It’s often followed by 來 lái来 lái or 去 qù, and then what you do there. Together with 從 cóng从 cóng, it also means “from… to…”
一 到 + Place (+ 來来 / 去)
Subject + 到 + Place (+ 來来 / 去) (+ what you do there)
到 dào + place tells where you’re headed. Add 來 lái来 lái (toward the speaker) or 去 qù (away from the speaker) to show direction, and then the purpose. To make it negative, put 不 bù or 沒 méi没 méibefore 到 dào.
我們我们到陽明山阳明山泡溫泉温泉好嗎吗？
Shall we go to Yangmingshan to soak in the hot springs?
你明天可以到我們我们公司看看
You can come to our company tomorrow and have a look around.
他沒没到你家去嗎吗？
He didn’t go to your place?
聽說听说周杰倫周杰伦明天會会到美國美国去
I heard Jay Chou is going to the US tomorrow.
你到不到台灣台湾來来學学中文？
Are you coming to Taiwan to study Chinese or not?
The question form is 到不到 dào bu dào.
FYI: 周杰倫周杰伦Jay Chou is a hugely influential Taiwanese singer, songwriter, producer, actor, and director. Some of his most famous songs are 青花瓷 Qīnghuācí (Blue and White Porcelain), 稻香 Dàoxiāng (Rice Fragrance), and 夜曲 Yèqǔ (Nocturne). His songs sound great, but his pronunciation is famously unclear, so if you can’t understand what he’s singing, don’t worry. It’s not your fault! 😄
二 到 = To Arrive
Subject + 到 + Place + 了
On its own as a verb, 到 dào means “to arrive.” Add 了 le to show you’ve arrived.
你到咖啡店了嗎吗？
Have you gotten to the coffee shop yet?
我到家了
I’m home.
三從从 … 到 …
從从 + Place / Time + 到 + Place / Time
從 cóng从 cóng…到 dào… means “from… to…” or “from… until…” for places and times. 到 dào can also follow a verb, as in 走到 zǒudào (walk to) or 飛到 fēidào飞到 fēidào (fly to).
我從从家走到學校学校
I walk from home to school.
他從从早上等到晚上
He waited from morning until night.
我從从台北飛飞到上海
I flew from Taipei to Shanghai.
我們我们從从一月到十二月都在工作
We work from January to December.
從从你家到我家，要走多久？
How long does it take to walk from your place to mine?
四 Common Mistakes
❌ 他到去美國美国
✅ 他到美國美国去
The place goes right after 到 dào; 來来 or 去 comes after the place.
❌ 他到美國美国沒没去
✅ 他沒没到美國美国去
Put 沒 méi没 méi before 到 dào.
❌ 我從从家走學校学校
✅ 我從从家走到學校学校
You need 到 dào to mark where you end up.
五 Practice
Tap the words below in the right order to build the sentence, then check your answer. If it’s wrong, you can try again as many times as you like, or hit “Show answer” if you get stuck. Careful: some tiles are traps and are not needed!
Question 1 of 10
“Where are we going to eat tomorrow?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我們我们明天到哪裡哪儿去吃飯吃饭？
明天我們我们到哪裡哪儿去吃飯吃饭？ is also correct.
到 dào + place + 去 + purpose.
“What are you going to Beijing to do?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你到北京去做什麼什么？
Leaving out 去 is also correct.
Destination first, then purpose.
“I didn’t go to Beijing.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我沒没到北京去
Leaving out 去 is also correct.
沒 méi没 méi goes before 到 dào.
“Are you home yet?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你到家了嗎吗？
到 dào = arrive.
“Come over to my place for dinner tomorrow!”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
明天到我家來来吃飯吃饭吧！
Leaving out 來来 is also correct.
Coming toward the speaker → 來 lái来 lái.
“I walk from the station to the office.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
我從从車站车站走到公司
V + 到 dào + place.
“He worked from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
他從从早上九點九点工作到晚上九點九点
他從从早上九點九点到晚上九點九点工作 is also correct.
A long day. 😮💨
“How long does it take to get from Taipei to Kaohsiung?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
從从台北到高雄要多久？
從 cóng从 cóng…到 dào… for distance.
“Are you coming to Taiwan to study Chinese or not?”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
你到不到台灣台湾來来學学中文？
Leaving out 來来 is also correct.
A yes/no question with 到不到 dào bu dào.
“I heard he’s going to Japan next month.”
Tap words below to build the sentence
❌ Try Again
聽說听说他下個个月會会到日本去
Putting the time before 他, or leaving out 會会, is also correct.
