How do you say something needs to happen by Friday, by 6 p.m., or by tomorrow in Japanese? When you want to express a deadline—the latest point by which something should happen—you can use までに.
までに
By (a certain time)
JLPT Level: N5
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How to Use It
Place までに after a time expression to show that something must happen by that point. The action can happen at any point before the deadline. The important thing is that it is completed or occurs no later than the time marked by までに.
Usage Pattern
[Time expression] + までに + [Action]
Example 1
金曜日までに宿題を出してください。
きんようび までに しゅくだい を だして ください。
Kinyōbi made ni shukudai o dashite kudasai.
Please turn in your homework by Friday.
Example 2
午後６時までに来てください。
ごご ろくじ までに きて ください。
Gogo roku-ji made ni kite kudasai.
Please come by 6 p.m.
Example 3
明日までに終わらせます。
あした までに おわらせます。
Ashita made ni owarasemasu.
I’ll finish it by tomorrow.
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