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〜まで(して)

even; going as far as

Noun (+ particle) + まで · Verb て-form + まで

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Besides "until", まで means "even", stressing that something went further than expected: 家族にまでうそをついた, "he even lied to his family". It's stronger than も and often carries surprise or disapproval.

It follows a noun or a particle: 子どもにまで, 雷まで. The unexpected item is the extreme end of a list.

After a て-form, てまで means "going as far as doing": 借金してまで、車を買う必要はない, "there's no need to go as far as borrowing money to buy a car". The second half often questions whether it's worth it.

Compare さえ ("even"), which picks out the minimum; まで picks out the maximum, the furthest point.

Examples

  • 家族かぞくにまでうそをついた。

    He even lied to his family.

  • 借金しゃっきんしてまで、車くるまを買かう必要ひつようはない。

    There's no need to go as far as borrowing money to buy a car.

  • 子こどもにまで笑わらわれた。

    Even the children laughed at me.

  • 徹夜てつやしてまで、レポートを仕上しあげた。

    I went as far as staying up all night to finish the report.

  • 雨あめだけでなく、雷かみなりまで鳴なり出だした。

    Not only rain, but thunder too, on top of everything.

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