How common it is
等到 appears often in everyday Chinese, so it is worth practicing early and reviewing often.
Pronunciation focus
Say děng dào slowly first, then repeat it in a short phrase. Listen for the tone shape.
Usage note
等到可以用来表示等待某个特定的时间或条件。
děng dào kě yǐ lái bǎo shí rèn wèi děng dào.
等到 is used to indicate waiting for a specific time or condition.
Context note
等到常用于描述等待某个事件或情况的发生。
děng dào cháng yòng lái miáo shì děng dài gè gù diǎn huò qíng kuàng de fā shēn.
等到 is commonly used to describe waiting for an event or situation to occur.
5 examples
等到周末我再陪你去公园。
děng dào zhōu mò wǒ zài péi nǐ qù gōng yuán。
I will take you to the park on weekends.
等到了晚上，我们一起去吃晚饭。
děng dào le wǎn shàng， wǒ men yì qǐ qù chī wǎn fàn。
We will go have dinner together when it gets dark.
等到你准备好，我们就出发。
děng dào nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo， wǒ men jiù chū fā。
We will set off once you are ready.
等到了夏天，我们再去游泳吧。
děng dào le xià tiān， wǒ men zài qù yóu yǒng ba。
Let's go swimming in the summer.
等到放假了，我们可以多出去玩。
děng dào fàng jià le， wǒ men kě yǐ duō chū qù wán。
We can play more when we have a holiday.
5 mini stories
妈妈说等到了晚上九点就带我去吃冰淇淋。
mā ma shuō děng dào le wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn jiù dài wǒ qù chī bīng qí lín。
Mom said she would take me to eat ice cream at nine o'clock in the evening.
爸爸说等到我们搬进新家，就可以开始装修了。
bà ba shuō děng dào wǒ men bān jìn xīn jiā， jiù kě yǐ kāi shǐ zhuāng xiū le。
Dad said we could start decorating once we moved into our new home.
老师说等到了下课我们就去操场玩。
lǎo shī shuō děng dào le xià kè wǒ men jiù qù cāo chǎng wán。
The teacher said we would go to the playground after class.
哥哥说等到他工作稳定了，就会给我买玩具。
gē ge shuō děng dào tā gōng zuò wěn dìng le， jiù huì gěi wǒ mǎi wán jù。
Brother said he would buy me a toy once his job was stable.
姐姐说等到了冬天，我们可以一起堆雪人。
jiě jie shuō děng dào le dōng tiān， wǒ men kě yǐ yì qǐ duī xuě rén。
Sister said we could make snowmen together in the winter.