至 zhì until
until; reach
How to remember 至: 𠫔 arrow landing + 土 earth = until. The archer watches her arrow landing in the soft earth and keeps practising until dark.
Component breakdown
至 = 𠫔 arrow landing + 土 earth
- 𠫔 arrow landing
- 土 earth
The archer watches her arrow landing in the soft earth and keeps practising until dark.
How it came to be
An arrow that has come down and stuck in the ground, drawn point first. The journey is over at the line, which is what until means.
How it is used
- To reach / up to, and 'extremely' - 至少 (zhìshǎo) at least, 至今 (zhìjīn) up to now, 甚至 (shènzhì) even.
- As a range marker 'to': 从北京至上海 (cóng Běijīng zhì Shànghǎi) from Beijing to Shanghai (formal for 到).
- 至于 (zhìyú) 'as for / as far as'; 至关重要 (zhìguān zhòngyào) crucially important.
Characters built with 至
Words with 至
- 甚至shènzhìeven (to the point of)HSK 4
- 至少zhìshǎoat leastHSK 4
- 至今zhìjīnso farHSK 5
- 不至于búzhìyúunlikely to go so far as toHSK 6
- 截至jiézhìup to (a time)HSK 6
- 至于zhìyúas forHSK 6
- 至关重要zhìguān-zhòngyàoextremely importantHSK 6
- 以至于yǐzhìyúdown toHSK 7
- 无微不至wúwēi-búzhìin every possible way (idiom)HSK 7
- 直至zhízhìlasting untilHSK 7
- 自始至终zìshǐ-zhìzhōngfrom start to finish (idiom)HSK 7
- 至此zhìcǐup until nowHSK 7
- 乃至nǎizhìand evenHSK 8
Example sentences
- 他至少40岁了。 Tā zhìshǎo sìshí suì le.He's at least 40 years old.
- 她甚至连晚饭都没吃。 Tā shènzhì lián wǎnfàn dōu méi chī.She didn't even have supper.
- 他很激动，甚至连话都说不出来了。 Tā hěn jīdòng, shènzhì lián huà dōu shuō bu chūlái le.He was so excited that he couldn't utter a word.