までUntil / up to / as far as
まで marks an end point: until a time or up to a place. It often pairs with から to show a range (from…to…), but it can also stand alone. Use it for deadlines/end times and destination limits: ごごろくじまで, えきまで.
Key points
Quick reminders for how to use it.
- Use まで for an endpoint in time or place.
- Often pairs with から for ranges.
- Can be used alone: えきまで (up to the station).
Patterns
Common structures you’ll see.
〜まで 〜します。
~ made ~ shimasu.
Do ~ until ~.
〜まで いきます。
~ made ikimasu.
Go as far as ~.
〜から 〜まで
~ kara ~ made
from ~ to ~
ここまで です。
koko made desu.
That’s all / up to here.
Common mistakes
Watch out for these.
- ×Using まで for starting point (use から for start).
- ×Forgetting that まで is an endpoint (it answers “until where/when?”).
- ×Using に for endpoint time (ごごろくじに vs ごごろくじまで). に is a point; まで is “until”.
Examples
Real sentences with notes.
ごごろくじまで はたらきます。
gogo roku-ji made hatarakimasu.
I work until 6 pm.
👉 End time → まで.
にじまで べんきょうします。
ni-ji made benkyou shimasu.
I study until 2 o’clock.
👉 “Until” uses まで, not に.
えきまで あるきます。
eki made arukimasu.
I walk to the station.
👉 End place/limit → まで.
ここまで です。
koko made desu.
That’s all (up to here).
👉 Common phrase meaning “stop here / that’s enough”.
げつようびまで うちに います。
getsuyoubi made uchi ni imasu.
I’ll stay home until Monday.
👉 End day/time point → まで.
どこまで いきますか。
doko made ikimasu ka?
How far are you going?
👉 Question “until where” uses まで.
くじから ごごさんじまで はたらきます。
ku-ji kara gogo san-ji made hatarakimasu.
I work from 9 to 3 pm.
👉 Range: start から, end まで.
Compare with
Related particles to review next.