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到时 (dào shí) — (verb-object) to reach the appointed time

Definition

到时 (dàoshí) is a verb-object phrase meaning 'to reach the appointed time' — used when an event or deadline has arrived. Often followed by 了 to signal the moment is now.

verb
(verb-object) to reach the appointed time

Examples

  • 到时，。
    Wǒ men dào shí le, kě yǐ kāi shǐ le.
    We have reached the time; we can start.
  • 到时，。
    Tā dào shí de shí hou, dà jiā yǐ jīng zhǔn bèi hǎo le.
    When he arrived at the time, everyone was already prepared.
  • 到时，。
    Huì yì dào shí le, qǐng dà jiā ān jìng.
    The meeting has reached the time; please be quiet.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

到dàoreach
时shítime

The idea of reaching is paired with time, so 到时 means when the appointed time is reached.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
至至zhìto arrive
Sound part声符shēngfú
刀
刀dāo到dào
Same sound today

到 combines 至, meaning 'to arrive', with 刀 as the sound part. The 至 part points to the idea of reaching a stopping point.

Open 到 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 時; 时 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
日日rìsun; day
Sound part声符shēngfú
之
之zhī時shí
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 時 pairs 日 (sun/day) with 之 as the part that gives the sound; the simplified 时 is not the form described.

Open 时 →
Appears in
Time (Abstract)

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