zik6 dou3直到

Jyutpingzik6 dou3

Yalejihk dou

介詞Very common

Definition

Until; till; up to a certain point in time.

neutraltime

How it's used

While 直到 is widely understood, Cantonese speakers often prefer using 喺度等直到 or just until-like structures involving 到 or 埋. It carries a slightly more formal or emphatic tone compared to simply using 到 to indicate a time limit. It is frequently used in written contexts or when emphasizing the duration of an action leading up to a specific point.

Examples

ngo5我hai2喺dou6度dang2等zo2咗nei5你zik6直dou3到tin1天hak1黑。

I waited here for you until it got dark.

nei5你hai6係mai6咪jiu3要zou6做dou3到zik6直dou3到sau1收gung1工sin1先hang2肯zau2走？

Are you really going to keep working until you clock off before you leave?

Related words

synonymdou3到dousynonymzik6 zi3直至jikh ji

Common phrases

zik6直dou3到wing5永jyun5遠

until forever

zik6直dou3到zeoi3最hau6後

until the end

Common mistake

Learners often overuse 直到 in casual speech where a simple 到 or 做到 would sound more natural. It is not a direct replacement for all instances of until, especially when describing simple spatial or temporal endpoints where shorter particles are preferred.