直到 … ，… 才 … (all the way until) · 直到 + 时间 / 事件，主语 + 才⋯⋯
A late understanding begins at a boundary
- An explanation becomes clear to you only now.
- 直到现在，我才明白。 — 直到 gives the boundary and 才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
A late understanding begins at a boundary
- An explanation becomes clear to you only now.
- even now直到现在，I / me我only then / not until才clear明白。 — until直到 gives the boundary and only then / not until才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
An explanation becomes clear to you only now. What does 直到现在，我才明白。 communicate?
直到 gives the boundary and 才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier. 直到 can also mark a continuing action's endpoint without 才: 我们一直等到十点. Avoid adding 才 mechanically when there is no delayed onset to emphasise.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is 直到 … ，… 才 … (all the way until). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
until直到now现在，I我only then才understand明白。
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is until直到 … ，… only then / not until才 … (all the way until). Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
until直到now现在，I我only then才understand明白。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Only now do I understand: 直到现在，我 ____ 明白。
直到 + Time + 才 = not until then: 直到现在,我才明白. · 直到 + 时间 + 才 = 直到那时才:直到现在,我才明白。
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, 直到现在，我才明白。: 直到 gives the boundary and 才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Read examples in context
- In the opening example, even now直到现在，I / me我only then / not until才clear明白。: until直到 gives the boundary and only then / not until才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
What does 直到 mark? · 直到 标记什么?
直到 sets the end-point; 才 says it only happened then. · 直到 设定终点;才 表示到那时才发生。
Build: “Only now do I understand.” · 排一排:“直到现在,我才明白。”
直到 + Time，Subj + 才 + Verb: 直到现在 + 我才 + 明白. · 直到 + 时间,主语 + 才 + 动词:直到现在 + 我才 + 明白。
Know the boundary
- 直到 can also mark a continuing action's endpoint without 才: 我们一直等到十点.
- Avoid adding 才 mechanically when there is no delayed onset to emphasise.
Know the boundary
- until直到 can also mark a continuing action's endpoint without only then / not until才: we / us我们all along一直to wait until等到十点.
- Avoid adding only then / not until才 mechanically when there is no delayed onset to emphasise.
直到 often pairs with 才. · 直到 常和 才 搭配。
Yes: 直到 … ，… 才 … — 才 stresses “not until then”. · 对:直到……,……才…… —— 才 强调“到那时才”。
Every sentence about an until-boundary must contain 才.
直到 can also mark a continuing action's endpoint without 才: 我们一直等到十点. Avoid adding 才 mechanically when there is no delayed onset to emphasise. 直到 gives the boundary and 才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
Use the distinction
- 直到 gives the boundary and 才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
- 直到 can also mark a continuing action's endpoint without 才: 我们一直等到十点. Avoid adding 才 mechanically when there is no delayed onset to emphasise.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Prepositions.
Use the distinction
- until直到 gives the boundary and only then / not until才 emphasises that understanding did not occur earlier.
- until直到 can also mark a continuing action's endpoint without only then / not until才: we / us我们all along一直to wait until等到十点. Avoid adding only then / not until才 mechanically when there is no delayed onset to emphasise.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Prepositions.