The まで (made) particle is an essential part of Japanese grammar, commonly used to indicate limits, endpoints, and extent in time, space, and even conditions. Understanding how to use まで correctly will help you construct more precise and natural Japanese sentences. This guide will break down its different functions with clear explanations and examples.
Table of Contents
Indicating an Endpoint (Until, Up to)
The most common use of まで is to specify an endpoint in time, place, or action. It can be translated as “until,” “up to,” or “as far as.”
Time Limits (“Until X Time”)
When talking about time, まで marks the point at which an action stops.
Structure:
⏤ [Time] + までExamples:
学校は午後3時までです。
(Gakkou wa gogo sanji made desu.)
"School is until 3 PM."
仕事は夜7時まであります。
(Shigoto wa yoru shichiji made arimasu.)
"I have work until 7 PM."
昨日、夜中まで勉強しました。
(Kinou, yonaka made benkyou shimashita.)
"I studied until midnight yesterday."Place Limits (“Up to X Location”)
まで can also indicate a spatial boundary, meaning “as far as” or “up to” a certain place.
Structure:
⏤ [Place] + までExamples:
駅まで歩きましょう。
(Eki made arukimashou.)
"Let's walk up to the station."
彼は日本の北海道まで旅行しました。
(Kare wa Nihon no Hokkaidou made ryokou shimashita.)
"He traveled as far as Hokkaido in Japan."
家まで車で送ります。
(Ie made kuruma de okurimasu.)
"I'll drive you home."Action Limits (“Until X Action Happens”)
まで can also be attached to verbs to indicate that something happens until a specific event occurs.
Structure:
⏤ [Verb (dictionary form)] + までExamples:
雨がやむまで、ここで待ちましょう。
(Ame ga yamu made, koko de machimashou.)
"Let's wait here until the rain stops."
彼が戻るまで待ってください。
(Kare ga modoru made matte kudasai.)
"Please wait until he returns."
試験が終わるまで頑張ります。
(Shiken ga owaru made ganbarimasu.)
"I'll do my best until the exam is over."Expressing a Condition or Extent (Even, As Much As, To the Point of)
Another important use of まで is to emphasize an extent, meaning “to the degree of” or “even to the point of.”
Extreme Extent (“To the Point of”)
まで can highlight extreme situations or conditions, similar to “to the point of” in English.
Structure:
⏤ [Extreme Case] + までExamples:
死ぬまで働くつもりです。
(Shinu made hataraku tsumori desu.)
"I intend to work until I die."
彼は泣くまで怒られた。
(Kare wa naku made okorareta.)
"He was scolded to the point of crying."
疲れて動けなくなるまで走った。
(Tsukarete ugokenaku naru made hashitta.)
"I ran until I was so tired I couldn't move."Unexpected Extent (“Even, To the Degree That”)
まで can also express surprise or emphasis about something being included in a range.
Examples:
そんなことまで知っているの？
(Sonna koto made shitte iru no?)
"You even know about that?"
君まで反対するの？
(Kimi made hantai suru no?)
"Even you are against it?"
宿題を手伝うだけじゃなく、テストまで教えてくれた。
(Shukudai o tetsudau dake janaku, tesuto made oshiete kureta.)
"Not only did they help me with my homework, but they even taught me for the test."まで vs. までに (Made vs. Made ni)
A common point of confusion for learners is the difference between まで and までに.
| まで | までに |
|---|---|
| Indicates until a time/action happens | Indicates by a deadline or fixed time |
| Emphasizes the continuation of an action until a point | Emphasizes completion before a deadline |
| Used with both verbs and nouns | Used mainly with verbs |
Examples:
7時まで働きます。
(Shichiji made hatarakimasu.)
"I will work until 7 PM." (Continuous action up to 7 PM)
7時までに帰ります。
(Shichiji made ni kaerimasu.)
"I will return home by 7 PM." (Deadline: I must be home by 7 PM, but it doesn’t mean I was returning home the whole time.)