……，以至于……
so much so that; to the point that
Structure
程度很深的情况 ， 以至于 结果
What it means
“So much so that, to the point that”: says how far something went, then gives the result.
How it is built
Clause with a degree word (太, 那么, 非常, 越来越)，以至于 + result: 他工作太投入，以至于连女儿的生日都忘了 (he was so absorbed in work he even forgot his daughter’s birthday).
When to use it
Plain 以至 works too. 以致 sounds the same but only gives a result, usually a bad one, and is more formal: 他长期不注意休息，以致病倒了. Only 以至 can mark the end of a range: 从小学、中学以至大学.
Watch out
It joins two clauses, so don’t open a sentence with it. And 以致 leans to bad results; for a neutral or good result use 以至于.
Examples
小说写得太生动了，以至于很多人把书里的情节当成了真实的历史。
The novel is so vivid that many people take its episodes for real history.
他工作太投入，以至于连女儿的生日都忘了。
He was so wrapped up in his work that he even forgot his daughter’s birthday.
关羽过于大意，以致丢了荆州。
Guan Yu was far too careless, and as a result he lost Jingzhou.
Learn this in Lesson 89 · HSK 6–7: 三国：历史与小说 (The Three Kingdoms: history and the novel)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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