By ProDev Teach | Updated May 2025
📘 Meaning & Usage
The particle まで is used to express **”until”**. It indicates the point in time or place that an action continues or reaches. It can be used to show the end of a time period or a destination in terms of place.
It’s commonly used with time expressions, dates, and places to show the extent of the action.
🔍 Structure
- Time: ～まで → Until (time)
- Place: ～まで → Until (place)
Example with time: 今日まで勉強します (I will study until today.)
Example with place: 駅まで歩きます (I will walk until the station.)
📝 Example Sentences
- 3時まで勉強します。
San-ji made benkyō shimasu.
I will study until 3 o’clock. - 駅まで歩きます。
Eki made arukimasu.
I will walk until the station. - 今日までにレポートを提出してください。
Kyō made ni repōto o teishutsu shite kudasai.
Please submit the report by today. - 学校までバスで行きます。
Gakkō made basu de ikimasu.
I will go to school by bus.
📚 Grammar Notes
- まで is used to show the time or place when something happens, such as a deadline or destination.
- It is used for both time and place contexts, so it can indicate the endpoint of either.
- When referring to time, it often works with a specific time expression like 時 (じ – o’clock) or 日 (にち – day).
- までに is used when you refer to a deadline, similar to “by” in English.
📝 Practice Exercises
1. Fill in the blank with まで:
- 彼は4時＿＿帰ります。
- 私は駅＿＿歩いて行きます。
- この仕事は明日＿＿終わります。
✔ Answers:
- 彼は4時まで帰ります。
- 私は駅まで歩いて行きます。
- この仕事は明日まで終わります。
2. Translate into Japanese:
- We will study until 5 o’clock.
- He will go to the park until evening.
- Submit the assignment by tomorrow.
✔ Sample Answers:
- 私たちは5時まで勉強します。
- 彼は夕方まで公園に行きます。
- 明日までに課題を提出してください。
🈶 Vocabulary & Kanji Breakdown
| Word | Kanji | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| まで | — | まで | Until |
| 勉強 | 勉強 | べんきょう | Study |
| 駅 | 駅 | えき | Station |
| 帰る | 帰 | かえる | To return |
| 公園 | 公園 | こうえん | Park |
| 仕事 | 仕事 | しごと | Work |
🔗 Related Grammar
- ～までに: “By (a certain time)”
- から: “From” or “Since”
- に: “At (time)”, “To (place)”
🧠 Summary
- まで indicates the point in time or place when an action is completed or reached.
- Level: JLPT N5
- Form: Time/Place + まで
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.
