Endpoint with 到……为止 in Chinese
到……为止
到…为止 brackets the endpoint up to which an action, state, count, or discussion extends. The slot most often contains a time, but it may also name a place or stage. The frame marks a boundary and does not itself state whether the preceding process is complete beyond that boundary; aspect and context supply that information.
Published August 4, 2026
Reviewed August 4, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
到 + Time, Place, or Stage + 为止
Read the structure
到…为止 brackets the endpoint up to which an action, state, count, or discussion extends. The slot most often contains a time, but it may also name a place or stage. The frame marks a boundary and does not itself state whether the preceding process is complete beyond that boundary; aspect and context supply that information. Keep the model 到 + Time, Place, or Stage + 为止 visible while you compare each sentence.
到今天为止，我已经读了十本书。
Up to today, I have read ten books.
Choose the right context
Set the latest time included in a statement. Mark the physical endpoint of a route or range. Close a discussion or process at a named stage.
比赛到下午五点为止。
The competition lasts until five in the afternoon.
Respect the boundary
Do not reverse 到 and 为止 around the endpoint. Do not place 为止 before the endpoint it closes. Do not assume the frame alone proves the whole event is finished.
为止到昨天，我没有收到消息。
(End up to yesterday, I received no news.)
Repair the pattern
The endpoint markers are reversed: 到 introduces the endpoint 昨天 and 为止 closes it in that order. 为止 precedes the endpoint slot: The endpoint 这里 must stand between 到 and 为止.
到昨天为止，我没有收到消息。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
到今天为止，我已经读了十本书。
Up to today, I have read ten books.
到
到
This part occupies the 到 position in the model pattern.
今天
Time, Place, or Stage
This part occupies the Time, Place, or Stage position in the model pattern.
为止
为止
This part occupies the 为止 position in the model pattern.
，
到
This part occupies the 到 position in the model pattern.
我
Time, Place, or Stage
This part occupies the Time, Place, or Stage position in the model pattern.
已经
为止
This part occupies the 为止 position in the model pattern.
读了
到
This part occupies the 到 position in the model pattern.
十
Time, Place, or Stage
This part occupies the Time, Place, or Stage position in the model pattern.
本
为止
This part occupies the 为止 position in the model pattern.
书
到
This part occupies the 到 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
到今天为止，我已经读了十本书。
Up to today, I have read ten books.
比赛到下午五点为止。
The competition lasts until five in the afternoon.
这次讨论到这里为止。
This discussion ends here.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Set the latest time included in a statement.
- Mark the physical endpoint of a route or range.
- Close a discussion or process at a named stage.
Do not use it when
- Do not reverse 到 and 为止 around the endpoint.
- Do not place 为止 before the endpoint it closes.
- Do not assume the frame alone proves the whole event is finished.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
为止到昨天，我没有收到消息。
到昨天为止，我没有收到消息。
The endpoint markers are reversed
到 introduces the endpoint 昨天 and 为止 closes it in that order.
我的报告到为止这里。
我的报告到这里为止。
为止 precedes the endpoint slot
The endpoint 这里 must stand between 到 and 为止.
为止到昨天，我没有收到消息。
到 introduces the endpoint 昨天 and 为止 closes it in that order.
我的报告到为止这里。
The endpoint 这里 must stand between 到 and 为止.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 到……为止.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 到……为止. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Endpoint with 到……为止 Questions
Can the slot name a place?
Yes. The frame may mark a time, place, or stage as the relevant endpoint.
Does 到…为止 mean an event will never continue?
No. It limits the current statement to a boundary; later continuation depends on context.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五27】, PDF p. 226 (printed p. 220)
Places 到…为止 at Level 5 with temporal and discourse endpoints.
Official sourceLaoshi Chinese Grammar Reference
Laoshi editorial team · Laoshi · 2026
Locator: Grammar article 327, Expressing until with 到…为止
Explains time and place endpoints and notes formal or written uses for a process reaching a stage.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
从…起从…起: Starting From a Time or Place
Compare a framed endpoint with a framed starting point for the same span.
Easy to confuse
（自）……以来（自）…以来: Ever Since
以来 measures forward from a start, while 到…为止 closes an included range.
Learn first
年 / 月 / 日；点 / 分Clock and Calendar Order
Review ordinary calendar and clock expressions before placing one inside the endpoint frame.
Continue learning
时间Time Word Placement
Place the completed endpoint phrase correctly before or after the sentence subject.
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Compare
Compare a framed endpoint with a framed starting point for the same span.