8.10Usage: +++++
到
1. Till / To (arrive at)
- 到底 (dào dǐ) Till the end Literal. To the bottom
- 到时 (dào shí jiàn) Till then Literal. To a certain time in the future
- 迟到 (chí dào) Late Literal. Late to arrive
- 从头到尾 (cóng tóu dào wěi) Throughout Literal. From beginning (head) to end (tail) – often used to describe "the entire time"
2. Managed to
- 想到 (xiáng dào) Thought of Literal. Managed to think (about)
- 做到 (zuò dào) Managed to do something – often used to express "succeeded"
- 看到 (kàn dào) Managed to see / Could see
- 收到 (shōu dào) Managed to receive
3. Did not (manage to) 不到 (bú dào)
- 想不到 (xiáng bù dào) Did not think that
- 做不到 (zuò bù dào) Did not manage to do something – often used to express "failed to"
- 看不到 (kàn bù dào) Did not manage to see / Could not see
- 收不到 (shōu bù dào) Did not manage to receive
+ A LITTLE MORE +
- 到极点 (dào jí diǎn) To the extreme Literal. To extreme point – often added as an emphasis. For examples:
- 累到极点 (lèi dào jí diǎn) Tired to the extreme
- 热到极点 (rè dào jí diǎn) Hot to the extreme
- 美到极点 (měi dào jí diǎn) Beautiful to the extreme
+ SIMILAR CHARACTERS +
- 亻 Human Radical + 到 = 倒 (dǎo) Fall · (dào) Turned (around)
- 跌倒 (diē dǎo) Fall over
- 倒闭 (dǎo bì) Collapse (in business) Literal. Fall and close
- 倒退 (dào tuì) Reverse Literal. Turned and move backwards
- 倒立 (dào lì) Handstand Literal. Turned and stand
+ PERSONAL NOTE +
During Chinese New Year, it is very common to see the character for Good Fortune (福) pasted the other way round. This is because when Good Fortune is Turned (福倒), it sounds exactly like Good Fortune has Arrived (福到). It originated with simple Chinese calligraphy (black ink) on red pieces of paper but these days, there are countless versions such as papercuts and gold prints. Some even have Chinese zodiacs all round the Good Fortune, everyone just hopes to be blessed.