Usage note
直到是一个表示时间延续的连词，用来连接两个动作或事件。
zhídào shì yīgè biǎoshì shíjiān yùnxín de liáncí, láiyòng jiēlián liǎng gè dòngzuò huò dìngyàn.
直到 is a conjunction that indicates the continuation of time. It is used to connect two actions or events.
Context note
直到常用于描述某事发生之前一直持续的状态或行为。
zhídào cháng yòng wúrù míngshì fāshēn qián zhíchí chéndài de zhuàngtài huò hánxíng.
直到 is often used to describe a state or behavior that continues until something happens.
5 examples
他直到晚上九点才开始写作业。
tā zhí dào wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn cái kāi shǐ xiě zuò yè。
He didn't start doing homework until nine o'clock at night.
妈妈直到我回家才做饭。
mā ma zhí dào wǒ huí jiā cái zuò fàn。
Mom didn't cook until I came home.
直到考试结束，他都没有复习。
zhí dào kǎo shì jié shù， tā dōu méi yǒu fù xí。
He did not review until the exam ended.
直到下雨了，他们才停止户外活动。
zhí dào xià yǔ le， tā men cái tíng zhǐ hù wài huó dòng。
They didn't stop outdoor activities until it started raining.
直到爸爸回来，她才睡觉。
zhí dào bà ba huí lái， tā cái shuì jiào。
She didn't go to sleep until Dad came back.
5 mini stories
小明直到妈妈回家才开始写作业。他妈妈每天都很忙。
xiǎo míng zhí dào mā ma huí jiā cái kāi shǐ xiě zuò yè。 tā mā ma měi tiān dōu hěn máng。
Xiaoming started doing his homework only after his mom got home. His mom is very busy every day.
直到下雨了，他们才停止户外活动。天气预报说今天会晴天。
zhí dào xià yǔ le， tā men cái tíng zhǐ hù wài huó dòng。 tiān qì yù bào shuō jīn tiān huì qíng tiān。
They didn't stop outdoor activities until it started raining. The weather forecast said it would be sunny today.
直到考试结束，他都没有复习。老师说要认真准备。
zhí dào kǎo shì jié shù， tā dōu méi yǒu fù xí。 lǎo shī shuō yào rèn zhēn zhǔn bèi。
He did not review until the exam ended. The teacher said to prepare seriously.
直到下雨了，他们才停止户外活动。昨天他们玩得很开心。
zhí dào xià yǔ le， tā men cái tíng zhǐ hù wài huó dòng。 zuó tiān tā men wán dé hěn kāi xīn。
They didn't stop outdoor activities until it started raining. They had a lot of fun yesterday.
直到妈妈回来，她才睡觉。妈妈今天加班到很晚。
zhí dào mā ma huí lái， tā cái shuì jiào。 mā ma jīn tiān jiā bān dào hěn wǎn。
She didn't go to sleep until Mom came back. Mom worked late today.
Mini dialogue
等到妈妈来
A
我们什么时候回家？
Wǒmen shénme shíhou huí jiā?
When are we going home?
B
直到妈妈来接我们。
Zhídào māma lái jiē wǒmen.
Until Mom comes to pick us up.
直到写完
A
我可以看电视吗？
Wǒ kěyǐ kàn diànshì ma?
Can I watch TV?
B
直到你写完作业才可以。
Zhídào nǐ xiě wán zuòyè cái kěyǐ.
Not until you finish your homework.
Related words and contrasts
similar
到
dào
to; until
到 can also mean 'until' when used in time expressions, but 直到 emphasizes 'all the way until'.
related
才
cái
only then
Often used with 直到 to show something happened later than expected, e.g., 直到下午才回家 (didn't go home until afternoon).