まで

まで
particle
until, to, as far as
1. until, to (time endpoint)
Marks the ending point in time. 五時(ごじ)まで(はたら)く (work until 5 o'clock), 明日(あした)まで (until tomorrow).
I was up until 12 o'clock.
Time endpoint
Please submit it by Friday.
までに = by (deadline)
What have you been doing until now?
I can't wait until next year.
2. to, as far as (spatial endpoint)
Marks the ending point in space. (えき)まで(ある)く (walk to the station).
I'll take the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka.
から...まで for spatial range
Thank you for coming all the way here.
Spatial endpoint with appreciation
It takes ten minutes to walk to school.
Can you take me to the airport?
I climbed all the way to the top of the mountain.
3. even (emphasis)
Emphasizes an extreme or unexpected extent. (かれ)まで()た (even he came), 子供(こども)まで()っている (even children know).
It's such an easy problem that even children understand.
Emphatic 'even'
Even the teacher made a mistake.
Even he didn't believe me.
そこまで()わなくていいでしょう。
You don't have to go that far in saying it.
I'll never forget until I die.
4. to the extent of
Indicates the degree to which something extends. ()くまで(わら)った (laughed until [I] cried).
I laughed until I cried.
I sang until my voice gave out.
I'll explain until you understand.
I practiced until I was too tired to move.

まで often pairs with から: 九時(くじ)から五時(ごじ)まで (from 9 to 5). Unlike (which marks a specific point), まで emphasizes the extent or continuation up to that point. まで means 'by (a deadline)': 金曜日(きんようび)まで (by Friday). As 'even,' まで is stronger than , implying a surprising extreme.

Related Words

See also: から
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