(wéi zhǐ) - up to, until (a stated point) in Mandarin
wéizhǐTraditional: 為止
Translation
up to, until (a stated point)
Word origin
A compound of 为 (wéi, to be, to act as) and 止 (zhǐ, to stop, to halt), so literally to take something as the stopping point.
- Origin
- compound
- Root
- 为 (wéi, to be) + 止 (zhǐ, to stop)
Stroke order
为
止
Examples
，。
So far, everything has gone smoothly.
，百。
As of yesterday we had sold two hundred copies.
。
Let us end today's discussion here.
，。
Up until last month he was still working at that company.
。
As of today this matter still has no outcome.
为止 (wéi zhǐ) marks a cut-off. It lives in the frame 到 + a point in time or a place + 为止, and it tells you that everything being described holds up to there and no further: 到目前为止, 到上个月为止, 到这里为止.
It is common in reports, news and any tally that has to be dated. It also does polite work in a meeting or a lesson, where 今天就到这里为止 is a graceful way of saying that is enough for now.
The trap is word order. English puts "until" in front - "until now", "as of yesterday" - while Mandarin wraps the phrase, opening with 到 and closing with 为止. Learners routinely drop the closing half and produce 到目前, which sounds unfinished. The other slip is the tone: 为 is wéi here, second tone, as it is in 认为 and 成为.
Where this fits
Add to review queue
Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueMandarin · Free printables
为止: worksheet, infographic and listicle
Free printable study downloads for the Mandarin word "为止" (up to, until (a stated point)): a worksheet with the answer key built in, an infographic, and a sentence listicle. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 56.