到

dào v.

To arrive at a place after traveling or moving toward it. To reach a destination, time, or extent; also used after verbs to show completion or successful result.

Arriving at a destination or completing a spatial journey.

到 marks the finish line of movement. When Dazhong arrives right in front of the diner (到饭店前), his journey ends.

Common Usage & Traps

  • 到饭店前 — arrive in front of the restaurant
  • 我到了去 我到了

    Do not stack conflicting directional verbs.

What is the difference between 去 (go) and 到 (arrive at)?

去 focuses on setting out on the path; 到 focuses on reaching the destination.

You 去 (go) toward a place, but you 到 (arrive) when your feet touch the doorframe.

Appears in Stories 9 stories

Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.

《米老师的一天》 (A Doctor's Daily Routine) HSK 1
~3 min read 216 chars
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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。

《热面条》 (Hot Noodles on a Cold Night) HSK 1
~5 min read 399 chars
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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。

《去上海》 (Train or Plane to Shanghai) HSK 2
~2 min read 151 chars
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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。

《一到十二月》 (Twelve Months of Love) HSK 1
~2 min read 108 chars
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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。

《我的一天》 (My Day by the Clock) HSK 1
~1 min read 72 chars
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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。

《大飞机》 (The Big Airplane) HSK 1
~2 min read 97 chars
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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。

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