まで basically has two meanings:I. As a marker of an end point or a destination
I. It indicates an end point or a destination.
*The end point can be a place or time.
II. It marks a degree, extent, or means "even."
Behind a noun:II. As a marker of extent or inclusion
- Place / time + まで = until
大阪から京都 まで 行きました。(I) went from Osaka to Kyoto.
四時まで 働きました。I worked until four.
I. Behind a noun:
- noun + まで = including, even
社長まで来ました。Even the president came.
II. Behind a verb:
- verb-て + まで = even by . . . ing
お金を借りてまで買いたいんですか。You want to buy it even by borrowing money?
※まで replaces the particles は、が、を、も、へ.
社長が来ました。The president came.
社長も来ました。The president also came.
社長まで来ました。Even the president came.※When まで is used to mean "even" or "including," it may immediately follow other particles such as に and と.
私にまで手紙をくれました。She even gave me a letter.
あの人とまでつきあっているのですか。Are you seeing even him?
- When the destination is a place, まで may be replaced by the destination marker へ.
モスクワまで行きました。 (I) went as far as to Moscow.
モスクワへ行きました。 (I) went as far as to Moscow. Go to e (へ)