JapaneseJLPT
JLPT N4 grammar · Chapter 6

～までに

Complete something by a deadline

You'll be able to state the latest time by which an action must be completed.

Illustration of the scene described by Ren will finish his homework by five.
Read it first

蓮れんは五時ごじまでに宿題しゅくだいを終おわらせます。

ren wa goji made ni shukudai o owarasemasu.

What do you think this sentence means?

Ren will finish his homework by five.

Why it means that

Set a deadline

～までに gives the latest time by which an action must happen or be completed. It does not mean the action continues until that time.

Example

金曜日きんようびまでに返かえしてください。

kin'youbi made ni kaeshite kudasai.

Please return it by Friday.

How it is built

Form and use ～までに

Choose a completion or occurrence such as returning, submitting, or finishing. Plain まで describes continuation up to an endpoint; adding に changes the time relationship.

Time or event boundary+までに+Bounded action
Examples

金曜日きんようびまでに返かえしてください。

kin'youbi made ni kaeshite kudasai.

Please return it by Friday.

バスが来くるまでに切符きっぷを買かいます。

basu ga kuru made ni kippu o kaimasu.

I will buy a ticket before the bus arrives.

Compare

Until versus by

The same clock time can be an endpoint of continuation or a deadline.

  • まで

    五時ごじまで勉強べんきょうします。

    goji made benkyou shimasu.

    I study until five.

    Studying continues up to five.

  • までに

    五時ごじまでに勉強べんきょうを終おえます。

    goji made ni benkyou o oemasu.

    I finish studying by five.

    Finishing happens no later than five.

Examples

レポートは金曜日きんようびまでに出だしてください。

repooto wa kin'youbi made ni dashite kudasai.

Please hand in your report by Friday.

図書館としょかんの本ほんは来週らいしゅうの月曜日げつようびまでに返かえします。

toshokan no hon wa raishuu no getsuyoubi made ni kaeshimasu.

I'll return the library books by next Monday.

夜よる十時じゅうじまでに帰かえってきてね。

yoru juuji made ni kaette kite ne.

Be home by ten tonight, okay?

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