How do I say “I looked for it until I found it“ or “I looked for (something) until I found it” what is the word that i use for “until”?
-
我一直找，找到为止。BTW, isn't this something google can help with?– Toosky HierotDec 25, 2018 at 0:33
-
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%82%BA%E6%AD%A2– dROOOzeDec 25, 2018 at 0:34
-
1Google: until --> 直到 or 直至– Tang Ho ♦Dec 25, 2018 at 0:49
-
submit "look until find" to online dictionaries,e.g. iciba: 寻找直到找到 Search until you find it. 继续寻找直到你找到它 Keep looking until you find it, google translate:我找到它“直到”我发现它。seems acceptable although repeated (even single) use of 它 seems uncharacteristic of Chinese (cf. 1st example from iciba)– user6065Dec 25, 2018 at 1:44
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
Ok, I believe these are the colloquial expressions that you are looking for:
- 我找了一找才找到。
- 我找了半天才找到。
- 我找了好久才找到。
The key word is 才, which is the closest to the English words "until" / "till".
No. 1 is perhaps the best match. "找了一找" simply means "looked for" or "searched", without any indication of time frame.
You should use "直到 [...為止]"
我一直找，直到找到它為止。
It's still correct if you omit 為止, but in this case keeping it sounds more natural to me.
"直到" has two meanings, one of which is slightly different from "until":
1. something is true before the time point, but false after it.
"Until" is this meaning. For example,
It's not available until tomorrow. 直到明天才有/能提供
I didn’t know this matter until now. 直到現在我才知道這件事
It's implied that it will be available tomorrow or after tomorrow and I know this matter now.
2. something is true before the time point, and could be also true after it.
For the second meaning:
Up to now I still remember this matter. 直到現在我仍然記得這件事
