Grammar Info

N4 Lesson 2: 4/17

までに

By ~, By the time that ~, Before ~

Structure Legend

Structure

Noun + まで

Details

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About までに

までに is a combination of two different types of particles. The adverbial particle まで, and the case marking particle. までに is verb similar to まで when it means 'until'. However, there is one very important distinction. This distinction is that までに means 'by', not 'until'.
To use までに, we will need to attach it to the end of a noun, or verb in the non-past form.
  • 5()までに(えき)()てください
    Please come to the station by 5 o'clock.
  • (あそ)()までに片付(かたづ)
    Please tidy up by the time you go out to play.
To understand the difference between まで, and までに, we need to remember that usually marks a 'target', or a 'destination' for where something will happen. In this case, まで is the 'target' that is marking. This is due to the fact that まで means 'as far as' (まで is sometimes written using kanji (まで), especially in older/formal texts, and newspapers).
  • 来月(らいげつ)までにレポート()
    I will write a report by next month. (Focus is on 'next month' being the deadline)
  • 来月(らいげつ)までレポート()
    I am writing a report until next month. (Focus is on 'next month' being the end point for something that will continue until that point)
In this way, までに more literally means '(A) as far as ( marks the target), (B).
Fun Fact
Originally, まで meant 'as far as' in regard to the passing of a particular event. However, in modern Japanese, most people will assume that the speaker means 'by the beginning of (A)'. Due to this, sentences that have a very broad event, such as (なつ)までに could actually be interpreted as 'by the start of summer', or 'before the end of summer', depending on who you are talking to. In these cases, it would be better to add a more specific time frame.
  • (ふゆ)()までにスキーたい
    I want to go skiing by the end of winter. (Not just 'by winter', but specifically 'by the end of winter')

Examples

  • 明日(あした)までに電話(でんわ)ください。

    Please call by tomorrow.

  • ()までに学校(がっこう)つかなくてはいけない

    I have to arrive at school by 8 o'clock.

  • 11(がつ)(まつ)までに、クリスマスプレゼント()()きましょう。

    Let's go Christmas present shopping by the end of November.

  • 10()までに(かえ)てきてください

    Could you please come back home by 10?

  • 10()までに(かえ)てくること無理(むり)です

    It will be impossible for me to be back by ten.

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までに – Grammar Discussion

Most Recent Replies (12 in total)

  • pokedots

    pokedots

    About 3 years ago

  • mrnoone

    mrnoone

    About 3 years ago

    @pokedots

    まで, when used with location means “to” or “as far as”.
    If we translate the sentence more literary, “If I go with my friends to the city to have some fun, I think that it will be impossible for me to be back by ten.”

    Another example:
    私はバスで京都まで行った。
    I went to Kyoto by bus.

    I hope it helps,
    Cheers!

  • pokedots

    pokedots

    About 3 years ago

    Thank you! I didn’t think about the まで as referring to the 行いったら

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