What is the difference between まで vs までに?

まで marks the end point of something that continues: the action or state goes on all the way up to that point — 五時まで働きます "I work until five". までに marks a deadline: the action happens once, at some point no later than that time — 五時までに帰ります "I'll be home by five". Check the verb: continuing actions and states (待つ, 働く, 寝る, いる) go with まで; one-off actions (出す, 帰る, 終わる, 決める) go with までに. まで can also mark a place: 駅まで歩く "walk as far as the station".

When do you use まで?

Until — B goes on the whole time

When do you use までに?

By — B happens once, before the deadline

まで vs までに: what's the difference?

まで is "until" for things that continue; までに is "by" for a deadline. One particle changes the meaning — examples and a drill.

Draft: written with AI help and not yet checked by a teacher. If something looks wrong, please report it.

The patterns

までUntil — B goes on the whole timeOpen the lesson
までにBy — B happens once, before the deadlineOpen the lesson

The difference

まで marks the end point of something that continues: the action or state goes on all the way up to that point — 五時ごじまで働はたらきます "I work until five". までに marks a deadline: the action happens once, at some point no later than that time — 五時ごじまでに帰かえります "I'll be home by five". Check the verb: continuing actions and states (待まつ, 働はたらく, 寝ねる, いる) go with まで; one-off actions (出だす, 帰かえる, 終おわる, 決きめる) go with までに. まで can also mark a place: 駅えきまで歩あるく "walk as far as the station".

Side by side

まで五時ごじまで働はたらきます。I work until five.

までに五時ごじまでに帰かえります。I'll be home by five.

Working continues up to five; getting home happens once, before five.

まで金曜日きんようびまで休やすみです。I'm off until Friday.

までに金曜日きんようびまでにレポートを出だしてください。Please hand in the report by Friday.

A holiday lasts; handing in a report is a one-off action.

まで雨あめがやむまで、ここで待まちましょう。Let's wait here until the rain stops.

までに暗くらくなるまでに、家いえに帰かえりたい。I want to get home before it gets dark.

Both also follow a verb in the dictionary form.

まで夜よる遅おそくまで勉強べんきょうしました。I studied until late at night.

までに試験しけんまでに、この本ほんを全部ぜんぶ読よみます。I'll read this whole book before the exam.

までに: the whole task must be done by then.

Quick drill

Pick the word that fits the blank. You get the answer straight away.

明日あした＿＿宿題しゅくだいを出だしてください。
駅えきで友達ともだちが来くる＿＿待まっていました。
三月さんがつ＿＿日本にほんにいる予定よていです。
会議かいぎが始はじまる＿＿資料しりょうをコピーしておいてください。
日曜日にちようびは昼ひる＿＿寝ねていました。
三十歳さんじゅっさい＿＿結婚けっこんしたいです。

0 of 6 correct

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