TongTong
Sign in

直至 (zhí zhì) — until; up to (a point in time or condition)

Definition

Formal/written 'until' — emphasizes continuation all the way up to a point. 比 直到 更书面, and unlike 到为止, 直至 itself already marks the cutoff.

verb
untilup to (a point in time or condition)

Examples

  • 直至。
    Zhè jiā diàn yíng yè zhí zhì wǎn shàng shí yī diǎn.
    This store is open until 11 pm.
  • 直至。
    Tā zhí zhì shàng ge yuè cái wán chéng nà ge xiàng mù.
    He didn't finish that project until last month.
  • 直至。
    Zhè ge chuán tǒng yǐ yán xù zhí zhì jīn tiān.
    This tradition has continued up to the present day.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

直zhídirectly
至zhìreach

直至 combines 直 (directly) with 至 (reach), expressing a point reached directly, i.e., until.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The earliest form of 直 pairs 目, an eye, with an unclear stroke 丨.

Open 直 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

至 is drawn as an arrow stuck into the ground.

Open 至 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.