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N4

までに

By ~, By the time that ~, Before ~

明日あしたまでに電話でんわをください。

Please call by tomorrow.

Explanation

「までに」 marks a deadline: it can happen at any time before that moment.

「5時までに来てください」 (Please come by 5). It goes with actions that happen once, such as 「提出する」, 「帰る」, 「支払う」.

Mixed up with

「まで」 means 'until' and goes with an action that continues: 「5時まで待つ」 (wait until 5).

「までに」 means 'by' and goes with a one-time action: 「5時までに来る」 (arrive by 5).

Rule of thumb: keeps going, 「まで」; deadline, 「までに」.

Examples

  1. 5時ごじまでに駅えきに来きてください。

    Please come to the station by 5 o'clock.

  2. 遊あそびに行いくまでに片付かたづけてね。

    Please tidy up by the time you go out to play.

  3. 来月らいげつまでにレポートを書かく。

    I'll write the report by next month.

Tested 2 times in past papers

N4 · Jul 2012, Q45N3 · Jul 2011, Q46