直到 … ，… 才 … (all the way until)

Right up until…

To mark "all the way until [a point]", use until直到zhí dào.
even now直到现在zhí dào xiàn zài，I / me我wǒonly then / not until才cáiclear明白míng bái = "only now do I finally understand."
until直到zhí dào + time / event often pairs with only then / not until才cái.

until直到zhí dào sets the end-point; only then / not until才cái says it only happened then.

until直到zhí dàonow现在xiàn zài，I我wǒonly then才cáiunderstand明白míng bai。

even now直到现在zhí dào xiàn zài，I / me我wǒonly then / not until才cáiclear明白míng bái = "only now do I understand."

Practice

Only now do I understand: 直到现在，我 ____ 明白。

Practice

What does 直到 mark?

Practice

Build: “Only now do I understand.”

Explore

直到 X，(subject) 才 … — nothing happens until X; 才 signs the lateness.

Practice

直到 often pairs with 才.

Key idea

until直到zhí dào + Time / Event，… only then / not until才cái … — "all the way until …, only then …"
even now直到现在zhí dào xiàn zài，I / me我wǒonly then / not until才cáiclear明白míng bái
until直到zhí dào sets the end-point; only then / not until才cái = "not until then"