N4 Sequential Actions

~までに: meaning, usage and examples

~までに means: before..., by... (time limit).

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 5時じまでに帰かえってきてください。

   Please come back by 5 o'clock.

2. 来週らいしゅうまでに本ほんを返かえさなければなりません。

   I must return the book by next week.

3. 金曜日きんようびまでにレポートを出だしてください。

   Please hand in the report by Friday.

4. 暗くらくなるまでに家いえに帰かえりましょう。

   Let's get home before it gets dark.

When to use it

までに sets a deadline: the action must happen at some point before that time. 5時じまでに帰かえってきてください means come back any time up to 5 o'clock. Use it for homework, work tasks, returning things, and arriving somewhere. After a verb, it means "before something happens": 暗くらくなるまでに帰かえりましょう.

Nuance

Neutral and common in school and work. The action happens once, before the limit. Often used with requests (てください) and obligations (なければなりません). The verb before までに is always dictionary form, even for past events.

Compare

まで means an action continues the whole time until a point: 5時じまで働はたらきます (I work until 5). までに means it happens once by that point: 5時じまでに来きます (I will come by 5). Test: does the action last? Use まで. Is it a deadline? Use までに.

Tip: Ask if the action is continuous or a one-time event. 待まつ, 寝ねる, 働はたらく take まで. 出だす, 帰かえる, 終おわる usually take までに.