until
/ənˈtɪl/ (bre, ipa) · [əntˈɪl] /ənˈtɪl/ (ame, ipa) · [əntˈɪl] /ən-ˈtil -ˈtel; ˈən-ˌtil, -ˌtel, -tᵊl/ (ame, mw)
until — 介系詞
1. used to say that an action, situation, or state continues up to a specific time
直到…為止
持續到某一時間點為止
used to say that an action, situation, or state continues up to a specific time and then ends or changes at that point.
The shop stays open until 8 p.m. every evening.
這家商店每天晚上營業到晚上八點。
until + clock time
Shanti stayed at school until four o'clock that afternoon.
Shanti 那天下午在學校待到四點才離開。
The Arantes family's flight discount is valid until the end of this month only.
Arantes 一家的機票折扣只優惠到本月底為止。
Please keep your ticket until the end of the journey.
請保管好你的車票，直到旅程結束。
The children played in the garden until sunset.
孩子們在花園裡玩到日落。
文法句型
until + [time noun]
until + [event noun/gerund]
用法筆記
The noun or noun phrase after 'until' marks the exact cutting-off point — the action stops when that moment is reached. To express completion by a deadline, use 'by' instead of 'until'.
常見錯誤
2. paired with a negative word to indicate that something cannot happen until a spe
直到…才
否定句中表示到某時間才發生
paired with a negative word to indicate that something cannot happen until a specific moment arrives — the event must wait for that moment.
The train does not arrive until 10:30 this morning.
火車今天早上十點半才會抵達。
does not + until + clock time
Liam won't finish his homework until late tonight.
Liam 要到深夜才能寫完功課。
The results are not due until next Friday afternoon.
成績要到下週五下午才會公布。
Please do not open the gift until tomorrow morning.
請等到明天早上再打開禮物。
The guests will not arrive until dinner is ready.
客人要到晚餐準備好才抵達。
- not till
informal version; common in casual speech
- not ... before
more direct; lacks the implication of lateness that 'not until' carries
- as early as
opposite implication — suggests something happens sooner rather than later
文法句型
not ... until + [time/event noun]
用法筆記
Frequently paired with a negative auxiliary (don't, won't, can't, isn't). The negative + 'until' combination carries a strong hint that the speaker thinks the time is later than expected.
常見錯誤
3. used to show how far something goes in space or how far a person moves, reaching
直到；到
空間上延伸到某個位置
used to show how far something goes in space or how far a person moves, reaching a particular point and then stopping.
Walk straight until the traffic lights, then turn left beside the bakery.
一直直走到紅綠燈，然後在麵包店旁左轉。
until + landmark noun
The bike path continues until the lake shore, where a wooden sign marks the end.
這條自行車道一路延伸到湖岸，那裡有一塊木牌標出終點。
We drove until the end of the highway, then stopped to rest.
我們一路開到高速公路盡頭，然後停下來休息。
The fence runs until the neighbour's driveway, then turns toward the back garden.
這道圍欄一路延伸到鄰居的車道，然後轉向後花園。
Caleb walked until the corner of the street and waited.
Caleb 走到街角，然後在那裡等。
- from
marks the starting point rather than the endpoint of a spatial range
文法句型
until + [place noun]
用法筆記
This spatial sense is less common than the temporal senses. In most cases, 'to' or 'as far as' sounds more natural for distance ('walk to the corner'), but 'until' emphasizes that the movement ends completely at that point.
常見錯誤
until — 連接詞
1. used between two clauses to show that something continues up to a certain moment
直到…時
引導子句，表示到某事發生為止
used between two clauses to show that something continues up to a certain moment, and then ends or changes.
Rania waited until her brother came home from school.
Rania 一直等到她弟弟放學回家。
main clause + until + subject + verb (simple past)
We will stay here until the storm passes tonight.
我們會留在這裡，直到暴風雨今晚過去。
Keep stirring the soup until it begins to boil.
繼續攪拌湯，直到它開始沸騰。
Ilan did not leave the office until his boss told him to go.
Ilan 等到老闆叫他走才離開辦公室。
Until you pay the full amount, the item will not be shipped.
在你付清全額之前，商品不會出貨。
- till
informal equivalent, very common in speech
- up to the point when
more emphatic and less common; used for added clarity
文法句型
[main clause] + until + [subject + verb]
until + [subject + verb], [main clause]
用法筆記
When the main clause refers to the future, use the present tense (not future) in the clause after 'until': 'I'll wait until she arrives' (not 'will arrive'). This is the most common conjunction sense of 'until' in everyday English.
常見錯誤
2. used in formal writing to stress that a state or activity continues without any
持續到…
強調不間斷持續到某刻（正式用法）
used in formal writing to stress that a state or activity continues without any break or interruption throughout the whole period leading up to a later event — unlike the general sense, this one focuses on the continuous, unbroken nature of the duration itself.
The bridge stayed closed until city engineers declared it safe to reopen.
這座橋一直封閉到市政府工程師宣布可以重新開放為止。
stayed + until + official decision for continuous state
The rain continued until dawn and left the football field under water.
雨一直下到天亮，讓足球場積滿了水。
The building stood empty until a new owner bought it last year.
那棟建築一直空著，直到去年有新買主買下。
This rule will apply until further notice is given by the committee.
本規定在委員會另行通知前持續適用。
Until such time as the lab checks the water, the beach will stay closed.
在檢驗室檢查水質之前，海灘將持續關閉。
- upon
marks an immediate change at a point, rather than continuous duration up to it
文法句型
until such time as + [clause]
[main clause] + until + [clause]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (conjunction): sense 1 simply marks the endpoint of a situation; sense 2 stresses that the situation continued uninterrupted throughout the whole period leading to that endpoint. Common with stative verbs like 'remain', 'stand', 'continue', 'stay'.