1.5: Lesson 1 Grammar - Expressing "from… to…" with "从… 到…" (cóng… dào…)
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从⋯⋯ 到⋯⋯(cóng... dào...) is used in the same way as "from... to..." is used in English, and can be used both for times and places.
Used for Times
To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:
Structure
从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2
The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can be any event or action.
Examples
- 从2004年到2008年
cóng èr-líng-líng-sì nián dào èr-líng-líng-bā nián
from 2004 to 2008
- 从一号到五号都在下雨。
Cóng yī hào dào wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ.
From the first to the fifth, it's been raining non-stop.
- 老板从周二到周五都要出差。
Lǎobǎn cóng Zhōuèr dào Zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi.
From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.
- 她从18岁到现在都一个人住。
Tā cóng shíbā suì dào xiànzài dōu yīgèrén zhù.
She's lived alone since she was 18 until now.
- 你不能从早到晚不吃东西。
Nǐ bù néng cóng zǎo dào wǎn bù chī dōngxi.
You can't eat nothing from morning to night.
Remember that there are two options for the word order of time words.
Used for Places
The same structure can also be used to express "from" one place "to" another.
Structure
从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2
Examples
- 从南京西路到南京东路
cóng Nánjīng Xī Lù dào Nánjīng Dōng Lùfrom
West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road
- 从酒店到机场不太远。
Cóng jiǔdiàn dào jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn.
From the hotel to the airport is not too far.
- 从上海到北京要几个小时。
Cóng Shànghǎi dào Běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí.
From Shanghai to Beijing it takes a few hours.
- 从你家到机场可以坐地铁吗？
Cóng nǐ jiā dào jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma?
From your place to the airport, can I take the subway?
[adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]
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