到

• Pinyin: dào
• Hanzi breakdown: 到 = 至 (arrive) + 刀 (knife, phonetic component)

Meaning

To arrive; to reach; to go to. Indicates arrival at a destination or achieving a result.

Used as a main verb meaning to arrive (我到了, I've arrived), as a complement indicating successful completion (看到, see; 找到, find), and as a preposition meaning to or until (到北京, to Beijing; 到明天, until tomorrow).

Examples

1. 我到学校了。 I've arrived at school.
2. 你几点到？ What time will you arrive?
3. 从这里到那里很近。 It's very close from here to there.

Usage Guide

Context: travel, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我到家了。(I've arrived home.)
• 从北京到上海很远。(It's far from Beijing to Shanghai.)

Don't Say

• 我到了去学校 (Don't use 去 after 到了 for arrival — say 我到学校了)

Origin & History

Composed of 至 (arrive) and 刀 (knife, serving as phonetic component) — to arrive at a place.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal