到位

• Pinyin: dào wèi
• Hanzi breakdown: 到 = 至 + 刂 (to arrive); 位 = 亻 + 立 (position, place)

Meaning

In place; thorough; fully realized; up to standard. Describes something done completely, correctly, or to the required level of quality.

Widely used in business, sports, and everyday contexts to mean that an action, service, or performance meets the expected standard. Can describe effort, expression, positioning, or execution. Its opposite is 不到位.

Examples

1. 这篇文章分析得很到位，观点清晰，逻辑严密。 This article's analysis is very much on point, with clear views and tight logic.
2. 服务不到位，顾客自然会流失。 If the service is not up to standard, customers will naturally leave.
3. 演员的情感表达非常到位，令现场观众深受感动。 The actor's emotional expression was extremely well judged, deeply moving the audience at the scene.

Usage Guide

Context: work, evaluation, sports, arts

Tone: evaluative

Do Say

• 解释得非常到位。(The explanation was very thorough.)
• 这项工作做得很到位。(This work was done up to standard.)

Don't Say

• 他跑得很到位 when used as a pure speed adverb — specify 跑到位置了 for physical positioning or use 表现到位 for performance quality

Origin & History

到 (to arrive at) + 位 (position, place). Together meaning to reach the right place or standard.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal