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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing 'until' with 至 (zhì)

    Time Expressions

    Structure

    至 + Time/Place

    Explanation

    至 (zhì) means "until" or "up to," indicating an endpoint in time or space. It is more formal than 到 and frequently appears in written Chinese. A common usage is 至今 (zhìjīn), meaning "up to now" or "to this day."

    Examples

    • 这场雨从早上一直下至傍晚才停。

      zhè chǎng yǔ cóng zǎoshang yìzhí xià zhì bàngwǎn cái tíng.

      The rain kept falling from morning all the way until evening before it stopped.

    • 这个传统至今仍然保留着。

      zhège chuántǒng zhìjīn réngrán bǎoliú zhe.

      This tradition is still preserved to this day.

    • 展览时间为九月一日至十月三十一日。

      zhǎnlǎn shíjiān wéi jiǔ yuè yī rì zhì shí yuè sānshíyī rì.

      The exhibition runs from September 1st to October 31st.

    Expressing 'until' with 至 (zhì) | Chinese Grammar