直到…才…
not until …
Structure
直到 时间点 ， 才 发生
What it means
Not until …: an event only happened at a late point, later than expected or hoped.
How it is built
直到 + time point or event，(subject) + 才 + verb: 我直到昨天才知道这件事 (I did not know about this until yesterday). 直到 can come before or after the subject.
When to use it
才 marks the event as late. For 'right up to … and still' use 直到…还: 直到现在他还没回来. Neutral, spoken and written.
Watch out
Don't copy English 'not': ✗ 我直到昨天没知道 ✓ 我直到昨天才知道. 才 takes no 了 at the end: ✗ 才知道了 ✓ 才知道.
Examples
中国长期分裂，直到隋朝才重新统一。
China was long divided and not reunified until the Sui.
我直到昨天才知道这件事。
I did not know about this until yesterday.
Learn this in Lesson 75 · HSK 6–7: 朝代一览 (The dynasties at a glance)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
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