までUntil; as far as; up to
まで marks the endpoint of a time, place, activity, or ordered range. It shows how far something extends.
The endpoint idea
Put まで directly after the expression naming the boundary. Depending on the context, English may use “until,” “as far as,” or “up to.” The starting point can be added with から, but it does not have to be stated.
Time, place, and ordered ranges
The same endpoint pattern works across several kinds of range.
図書館は午後六時まで開いています。
The library is open until 6 p.m.
AnalyzeThe open state continues to the stated time.
駅まで歩きました。
I walked as far as the station.
AnalyzeNo starting point is stated because only the destination matters.
今日は十ページまで読みましょう。
Let’s read up to page ten today.
AnalyzePage ten is the endpoint in an ordered series.
Stating both boundaries
月曜日から金曜日まで働きます。
I work from Monday through Friday.
Analyzeから gives the start, and まで gives the endpoint.
Endpoint versus deadline
Plain まで says that an activity or state extends to a boundary. までに instead sets a deadline: a completed event must happen no later than that time.
More examples
このバスは空港まで行きます。
This bus goes as far as the airport.
Analyze店は夜九時まで営業しています。
The store is open until 9 p.m.
Analyzeここから川までどのくらいですか。
How far is it from here to the river?
Analyze第五問まで解きました。
I solved the questions up through number five.
Analyze雨は朝まで続きました。
The rain continued until morning.
Analyze子どもたちは十まで数えられます。
The children can count up to ten.
Analyze