How to describe ‘from…to…’ in Chinese

从…到… (cóng…dào…) is used in the same way as "from … to …" as in English, and it can be used both for times and places.

"从…到…"与英语里的"from…to…"用法一样，而且它可用于表示时间和地点。

Used for time

To express from one time to another, the following structure is used:

表达"从某个时间到另一个时间"，可以使用以下的结构：

Subj. + 从 + Time 1 + 到 + Time 2

The "time" here does not necessarily have to be a standard time word; it can also be an event or action, as we would say, in English, something like "from getting on the plane until arriving in China, I felt nervous."

这里的"时间"不一定要是标准的时间词语，也可以是一个事件或动作，就像英语里我们会说类似"from getting on the plane until arriving in China, I felt nervous"（从登机到抵达中国，我觉得很紧张）这样的话。

Examples

从一号到五号都在下雨。

cóng yī hào dào wǔ hào dōu zài xiàyǔ.

From the first to the fifth, it's been raining all the time.

老板从周二到周五都要出差。

lǎobǎn cóng zhōuèr dào zhōuwǔ dōu yào chūchāi.

From Tuesday until Friday the boss will go on a business trip.

我从2004年到2008年都在上海工作。

wǒ cóng èr líng líng sì nián dào èr líng líng bā nián dōu zài shànghǎi gōngzuò.

From 2004 to 2008, I have always worked in Shanghai.

她从18岁到现在都一个人住。

tā cóng shíbā suì dào xiànzài dōu yī gè rén zhù.

She's lived alone since she was 18.

你不能从早到晚不吃东西。

nǐ bùnéng cóng zǎo dào wǎn bù chī dōngxi.

You can't eat nothing from day to night.

This is the easiest way to talk about doing something from one time through to another. Remember that there are two options for the word order of time words, so the 从 … 到 … (cóng…dào…) phrase can go before or after the subject.

这是谈及从某个时间到另一个时间之间做某事的最简单的方式。记住，这里的时间词语有两种词序选择，因此"从…到…"这个短语可以放于主语之前或之后。

Used for place

The 从…到… (cóng…dào…) can also be used to express from one place to another, and the structure is

"从…到…"也可以用于表达"某个地方到另一个地方"，该结构是：

Subj. + 从 + Place 1 + 到 + Place 2

Examples

从酒店到机场不太远。

cóng jiǔdiàn dào jīchǎng bù tài yuǎn.

From the hotel to the airport is not too far.

从上海到北京要几个小时。

cóng shànghǎi dào běijīng yào jǐ gè xiǎoshí.

From Shanghai to Beijing takes a few hours.

从南京西路到南京东路，有很多昂贵的店。

cóng nánjīng xī lù dào nánjīng dōng lù, yǒu hěnduō ángguì de diàn.

From West Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road, there are many expensive stores.

从你家到机场可以坐地铁吗？

cóng nǐjiā dào jīchǎng kěyǐ zuò dìtiě ma?

Can I take the metro to the airport from your place?

Translated from: allsetlearning

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