until
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.
Follow this path until the old stone bridge, then cross the stream.
沿著這條路走到古老的石橋，然後越過小溪。
until + landmark noun
The hiking trail runs until the lake shore and ends at a wooden sign.
這條登山步道一直延伸到湖岸，終點處有一個木製標示。
We drove until the end of the highway and rested.
我們開車到高速公路的盡頭才休息。
The fence extends until the neighbour's driveway, then turns sideways.
籬笆延伸到鄰居的車道，然後轉向側邊。
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. connecting two clauses, where the action or situation in the main clause continu
直到…時
引導子句，表示到某事發生為止
connecting two clauses, where the action or situation in the main clause continues only up to the moment described in the 'until' clause, at which point it changes or ends — this is the everyday sense, without special emphasis on whether the action was uninterrupted.
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 contract remains in effect until both parties agree to end it.
Okafor 醫師的聘僱合約在雙方同意解除之前持續有效。
remains + until + both parties + verb (formal context)
The loud music from the flat upstairs continued until a neighbour called the police.
樓上公寓傳出的吵鬧音樂一直持續，直到鄰居報警。
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 court reviews the evidence, no decision about the case will be made.
在法院審查證據之前，不會對案件做出任何決定。
- 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'.