The left side 至 shows an arrow reaching the ground, so the arrival meaning is baked in. The right side 刂 is a knife shape; it does not add a target story. Every meaning of 到 — arrive, reach, go to, up to — grows from that arrival core.
到家 already means arrive home. Stacking 去 in front is like saying 'go arrive'.
看到 is the result of seeing, not an ongoing action.
For 'read until 10', 到 goes after the action. Putting it before makes it sound like you arrive at 10 to read.
到明天 does not mean 'by tomorrow' before an errand. Use 明天 directly.
到时候 means 'when the time comes'. To say 'when I arrive', use 我到的时候.
You can, but it sounds like an arrival update. 去学校 is the normal 'go to school'.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Telling your plan | 我去学校 | 我到学校 |
| Texting when you walk in | 我到学校了 | 我去学校了 (means you left for school) |
| Asking arrival time | 你几点到学校? | 你几点去学校? (asks departure time) |
看 is the act of looking or watching. 看到 is the result — your eyes actually caught it.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Watching a movie | 我在看电影 | 我在看到电影 |
| Spotting a friend | 我看到朋友了 | 我看朋友了 (sounds like you stared at your friend) |
| Result landed with another verb | 我买到书了 | 我买书了 (doesn't say you got the book) |
Yes. Put 到 after the action to say 'until': 我看书看到十点.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Read until 10 | 我看书看到十点 | 我到十点看书 |
| From morning to night | 从早上到晚上 | 从早上到晚 (晚 alone means late) |
| When I arrive | 我到的时候 | 我到时候 (means 'when the time comes') |
Discover how a simple letter from a cookie seller led to an unexpected friendship with a famous scholar. This heartwarming story explores kindness and connection across social divides.
比如， 到底 英美政治制度哪个更好一点？
他比较支持美国，但理论上说不明白，一直 得不到 满意的解释。
胡之适 接到 这封信，知道了他虽然只是一位卖饼干的，竟然能在业余勤奋自学；问的又是胡博士最关心的英美政治问题，更觉十分高兴，便立即亲自写了一封回信。
一天，胡之适邀请元真 到 他研究院的办公室去做客。
后来，他们又 谈到 小时候的生活。
他的一个朋友拿了一块饼干 送到 他的病房，跟他开玩笑：“我给你吃一样东西。
胡之适 看到 饼干，笑了，说：“我早就吃过了。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
他说今年出口不好做，运费涨了三成，利润 压到 五个点以下。
可 直到 散席，那碗汤也没再碰过。
转盘 转到 他面前，他伸手把转盘推走了。
旁边他公司的一位副总赶紧抓起公筷，夹了一块儿和牛 放到 他碟子里。
我坐他对面，看见他把那块肉夹起来， 放到 了骨碟边沿，跟那根早就夹过来，但其实没吃的青菜并排摆着，整整齐齐。
到家 了我就让保姆煮一碗清汤面，打两个蛋。
Meet Dr. Mi, a doctor and teacher at Sichuan University. This simple HSK 1 story shows his daily routine from morning to night, helping you learn time expressions and everyday activities.
他星期一 到 星期五都要上班。
他早上七点十分开车去学校，四十五分钟能 到 学校。
他下午五点半下班回家，六点多 到家 。
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
“东山再起”这个成语的本意是一个人失败以后或从高的地位 落到 低的地位以后，重新 回到 成功的位置。
后来，他的家族 遇到 了困难，他才决定出来当官。
谢安出来工作后，表现出色， 做到 了很高的位置。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
可是，根据前几年的有关数据，中国方便面的年人平均消费量是三十五份，远不如日本，甚至还 不到 韩国的一半。
看一下“人体所需营养”目录，就明白一个人最好每天吃10 到 30种以上的食物，这样才能 得到 各种各样的营养。
事实上，油炸方便面的含油量比中国人传统常吃的油条，以及现在年轻人喜欢的炸薯条、炸土豆片什么的低很多，只是它们的二分之一 不到 。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
北京 到 上海有飞机，也有火车。
从北京 到 上海坐飞机， 不到 两个小时，但是要坐火车，就要最少五个多小时。
Welcome! This short poem helps you practice the months, weekdays, and mealtimes in Chinese. Read it aloud and notice the rhythm. You already know many of these words!
一月 到 二月，二月 到 三月，三月四五月。
星期一 到 六，天天喜欢你。
Step through a full day—from morning routines to bedtime—and pick up practical phrases for telling time and talking about your own schedule with a typical Chinese rhyme.
学习 到 九点，睡觉十点半。
Read about a work trip to Beijing where a group of colleagues takes a very large airplane. Practice weather words and actions in a simple travel story.
到 北京的时候，北京正在下大雨。
In this dialogue, two people chat while waiting outside a cinema. You'll hear common phrases for talking about hobbies, sports, and movie preferences.
我朋友 到了 。
This heartwarming story shows how a small act of kindness can be passed on. Follow Gao Xianming as he learns an important lesson about generosity in his new city.
老先生 来到 高先明前边，给高先明五块钱。
Follow Xiao Li as he copes with the effects of forest fires near his home in the US and reflects on environmental changes. A thoughtful story for HSK 4 learners.
因为风把烟 吹到 城里，空气变得非常差，很多人开始咳嗽，小李也是其中一个。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
今天是我 到 中为公司工作的第五天。
Join a family on a sweltering Beijing Sunday as a boy learns a funny lesson about playing outside in the summer heat. Perfect for HSK 1 learners.
到了 学校，儿子看了看，学校里真的一个人也没有。
Follow Dazhong, a busy worker in China, as he finds warmth and kindness at a small noodle shop. Practice everyday words for food, weather, and expressing gratitude.
大中 到 饭店前，看见老先生一个人坐在桌子前，在看外边。
A young man helps an old man look for his cat. But the real surprise is why the old man wanted to find the cat. Read on to learn about kindness and friendship.
我写了找猫的话，天天有人打电话问我‘老先生，猫 找到了 吗’。
Follow a day from waking at six-thirty to coming home at eight, then leap across days, months, and years. This simple story helps you practice speaking about routines and life changes with clear time words.
晚上八点 回到 家。
Read this short story about people waiting in the rain for a new phone. You will practice numbers, time, and everyday vocabulary.
明天苹果十九出来了，大家都想做第一个 买到 苹果十九的人。
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