到達 / 到达
dàodá
The English phrase arrival is expressed in Mandarin as 到達 / 到达 (dàodá). Wiktionary also lists 到來 / 到来 (dàolái) and 抵達 / 抵达 (dǐdá).
Meaning: act of arriving (noun)
Ways to say it
| Mandarin | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 到達 / 到达 | dàodá |
| 到來 / 到来 | dàolái |
| 抵達 / 抵达 | dǐdá |
The term arrival refers to the act of arriving.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 到達 is composed of 到 (to arrive/reach) and 達 (to attain/reach).
Which one should you use?
到達 / 到达 is used for reaching a physical destination or achieving a specific level, degree or standard. In contrast, 到來 / 到来 is used for the arrival of abstract things like time, seasons or eras rather than physical movement to a place. 抵達 / 抵达 is a more formal term used for the arrival of vehicles (planes, trains) or people at a specific location.
How do you pronounce it?
dàodá
Did you know?
- When referring to the arrival of a guest, Chinese speakers often use the phrase 光臨 instead of 到達, as 光臨 literally means 'your light has arrived to honor us'.
- In historical contexts, the character 抵 in 抵達 originally referred to resisting or pushing against something before it came to mean reaching a destination.
- The word 達 in 到達 can also mean 'to communicate' or 'to make oneself understood'. This links the idea of arriving at a destination with the idea of a message arriving in someone's mind.
Examples in context
- 我们的飞机终于到达了上海。Our plane has finally arrived in Shanghai.
- 请在到达前通知我。Please inform me before your arrival.
- 你什么时候到？When will you arrive?
- 他们已经到了咖啡店。They have already arrived at the coffee shop.
- 我们的火车终于抵达了广州。Our train has finally arrived in Guangzhou.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “arrival” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
