直到
HSK 3 (exam 2025)HSK 3 (2021)
直到 (zhídào) · until
直到 (zhídào) means “until”. It is written with 2 characters: 直 (straight) + 到 (to arrive). It is an HSK 3 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 直到 is built
The characters
直 zhí · straight
What 直 is made of
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 目mù — eye
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 二 — two strokes
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 一 — horizontal stroke
Origin hint: To look someone in the eye 目 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
到 dào · to arrive
What 到 is made of
- 至zhì — reach
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 厶sī — private
- 土tǔ — earth
- 十 — ten
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 刂dāo — knife
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 亅 — hook
Origin hint: 至 gives the meaning, 刂 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
他直到十二点才睡觉。Tā zhídào shí èr diǎn cái shuìjiào.He didn't go to bed until twelve.
我会等你，直到你回来。Wǒ huì děng nǐ, zhídào nǐ huílái.I'll wait for you until you come back.
Questions about 直到
What does 直到 mean?
直到 (zhídào) means “until”.
How do you pronounce 直到?
直到 is pronounced zhídào.
Which HSK level is 直到?
直到 is in HSK 3 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021).
Related words
- 一直yīzhístraight
- 直接zhíjiēdirectly
- 简直jiǎnzhísimply
- 直播zhíbōlive broadcast
- 垂直chuízhívertical
- 理直气壮lǐzhíqìzhuàngconfident in being right
- 直径zhíjìngdiameter
- 直zhístraight
- 得到dédàoto get
- 回到huídàoto return to
Learn 直到 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 26: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.