まで

Until/to

Level 1Sounds Like made

まで marks the end point of an action or state. It is used for both time ('until 5:00') and physical distance ('to the station').

How It Works

The particle まで is a versatile tool for defining boundaries in Japanese.

1. Time (Until):
When used with time, it indicates how long a state or action lasts. It is often paired with から (from) to show a range. This range pattern is versatile and can be used for time, space, and abstract concepts.
Example: ５時まで寝ました（ごじまでねました） (I slept until 5:00).

2. Space (To / As far as):
When used with locations, it emphasizes the limit or extent of the movement (as far as). While に or へ focus on the arrival, まで emphasizes reaching that specific boundary.
Example: 学校まで走りました（がっこうまではしりました） (I ran as far as the school).

3. Quantity (Up to):
It can be used with numbers or quantities to indicate an upper limit or maximum amount.
Example: １０人まで入れます（じゅうにんまではいれます） (Up to 10 people can enter).

4. Extremity (Even):
It can be used to point out an unexpected or extreme case, implying that if 'X' reached this point, it is truly surprising.
Example: 親友まで僕を疑った（しんゆうまでぼくをうたがった） (Even my best friend doubted me).

5. Usage with Verbs:
まで can follow the dictionary form of a verb to mean 'until [verb] happens.'
Example: 彼が来るまで待ちます（かれがくるまでまちます） (I will wait until he comes).

⚠️ Caution: まで vs までに
It is important to distinguish まで from までに.
• まで indicates a continuous action or state until a certain point.
• までに indicates a deadline by which a single action must be completed.

Examples (5)

  1. ９時から５時まで働きます。

    I work from 9:00 until 5:00.

    Word by Word: 9 o'clock from 5 o'clock until work.

    This shows the standard 'from... to...' pattern using から and まで.

  2. 駅まで歩きましょう。

    Let's walk to the station.

    Word by Word: Station until let's walk.

    Here, まで indicates the physical destination and the extent of the walking.

  3. 雨が止むまで、ここで待ちましょう。

    Let's wait here until the rain stops.

    Word by Word: Rain (subject) stop until, here at let's wait.

    まで follows the dictionary form of the verb 止む（やむ） to show the time limit of the continuous action (waiting).

  4. 昨日、１１時まで勉強しました。

    Yesterday, I studied until 11:00.

    Word by Word: Yesterday, 11 o'clock until studied.

    Even though the study happened in the past, the particle まで remains the same.

  5. 子供まで泣いています。

    Even the children are crying.

    Word by Word: Children even are crying.

    In this context, まで indicates an extreme or unexpected example, translated as 'even'.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'until' (continuous) with 'by' (deadline).

    明日まで宿題を出してください。
    明日までに宿題を出してください。

    まで is for continuous actions (like waiting). For a deadline (a one-time action that must happen before a certain time), you must use までに.

  • Using past tense before まで.

    雨が止んだまで待ちました。
    雨が止むまで待ちました。

    In Japanese, the verb immediately preceding まで must be in the dictionary (non-past) form, even if the overall sentence is in the past.

How It Connects

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までLevel 1Until/to

Learn This First

まで is a fundamental particle used to mark the endpoint of a range. To use it, you must understand basic Japanese word order and how particles attach to nouns. It is most effectively learned alongside its counterpart から to express 'from... to...'.

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