到 dào
“to reach; to arrive; to leave for; to go to; to (a place); until (a time); up to (a point)”
verb, prepositionHSK 2 · 2021 list level 1
新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level
到 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.
- Entry 29: 到 dào — Level 1; official annotation 1 (动). PDF page 80
Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.
用法How to use 到
到 means to reach or arrive. It is used as a verb before a place, as in 到家 or 到学校, or after a time to say when someone arrives. A common pattern is person/thing + 到 + place + 了.
例句Example sentences
- 你到家了吗？nǐ dào jiā le ma?Have you arrived home?
- 我们八点到学校。wǒ men bā diǎn dào xué xiào.We arrive at school at eight.
- 他下午到北京。tā xià wǔ dào běi jīng.He arrives in Beijing this afternoon.
常见错误Common mistakes
-
✗我到家八点。
✓我八点到家。
Time expressions like 八点 go before the verb phrase in Chinese.
-
✗我到在家了。
✓我到家了。
到 already means “arrive”; do not add 在 after it.
易混词Easily confused
到vs去
到 means arrive or reach, focusing on the endpoint; 去 means go to, focusing on the action of going.