The Difference betweenまで (made) vs までに (made ni)｜Japanese Grammar (N5–N3)

“I study until 5:00.” vs “I will finish by 5:00.”

In English, “until” and “by” are clearly different words. But in Japanese, they look very similar: まで (made) and までに (made ni).

Because there is only one “ni” difference, many N5 learners make mistakes. Using the wrong one can cause trouble with deadlines!

まで (made): Continuous action (Until…)
までに (made ni): Deadline (By…)

This article will explain the difference simply with examples and a quiz.

Usage Explanation ①: 「まで」 (made) – Continuous Action (Until)

まで (made) marks the end point of a continuous period.

It means the action continues all the time from the start up to that time. Think of it as a long line __________.

Keywords: “Until,” “Till.”

Example 1: (Studying)

5時まで勉強（べんきょう）します。(Go-ji made benkyō shimasu.)

I study (continuously) until 5:00.

Example 2: (Waiting)

バスが来（く）るまで待（ま）ちます。(Basu ga kuru made machimasu.)

I will wait until the bus comes.

Example 3: (Sleeping)

朝（あさ）まで寝（ね）ました。(Asa made nemashita.)

I slept until morning.

Key Point: Use まで with actions that take a long time (sleep, wait, work, study).

Usage Explanation ②: 「までに」 (made ni) – Deadline (By)

までに (made ni) marks a deadline or a time limit.

It means the action must be completed or happen at one point *before* or *at* that time. Think of it as a specific point 📍 on the timeline.

Keywords: “By,” “Before,” “No later than.”

Example 1: (Submitting homework)

明日（あした）までに レポートを出（だ）してください。(Ashita made ni repōto o dashite kudasai.)

Please submit the report by tomorrow.

Example 2: (Returning)

5時までに 帰（かえ）ります。(Go-ji made ni kaerimasu.)

I will come home by 5:00. (At some point before 5.)

Example 3: (Ending)

会議（かいぎ）は、3時までに 終（お）わります。(Kaigi wa, san-ji made ni owarimasu.)

The meeting will finish by 3:00.

Key Point: Use までに with instant actions (finish, submit, arrive, decide).

Comparison: 「まで」 vs 「までに」

Look at the difference in meaning.

Particle	Meaning	Type of Action	Image
まで (made)	Until	Continuous (Duration) Ex: Wait, Work, Stay	Action continues… __________\| (End)
までに (made ni)	By (Deadline)	One-time / Instant (Completion) Ex: Submit, Arrive, End	Action happens at one point… 📍\| (Limit)

Common Mistake Examples

Mistake 1: “Please submit it until Friday.”

Wrong:: 金曜日（きんようび）までレポートを出（だ）してください。(Kinyōbi made repōto o dashite kudasai.)
Correct:: 金曜日（きんようび）までに レポートを出（だ）してください。(Kinyōbi made ni repōto o dashite kudasai.)
Why?: Using “made” sounds like “Keep submitting the report continuously from now until Friday.” Submitting is a one-time action (deadline), so use までに.

Mistake 2: “I will work by 5:00.”

Wrong:: 今日（きょう）は、5時までに 働（はたら）きます。(Kyō wa, go-ji made ni hatarakimasu.)
Correct:: 今日（きょう）は、5時まで働（はたら）きます。(Kyō wa, go-ji made hatarakimasu.)
Why?: “Hataraku” (work) is a continuous action. You do it for a period of time. Use まで.

Practice Quiz

Let’s check your understanding! Choose the correct particle.

Q1.

映画（えいが）が始（はじ）まる ( ) トイレに行（い）きます。

I will go to the toilet ( ) the movie starts.

まで (made)
までに (made ni)

Q2.

友達（ともだち）が来（く）る ( ) 待（ま）っていました。

I was waiting ( ) my friend came.

まで (made)
までに (made ni)

Q3.

夏休（なつやす）みは、8月31日（はちがつさんじゅういちにち） ( ) です。

Summer vacation is ( ) August 31st. (Continuous state)

まで (made)
までに (made ni)

Quiz Answers

Q1. (b) までに – “By the time it starts.” Going to the toilet is a one-time action done before the deadline.

Q2. (a) まで – “Waiting” is a continuous action that lasts until the friend arrives.

Q3. (a) まで – Vacation continues “until” that date.

Summary: Key Differences

Just remember this simple translation:

まで (made) = Until (Keep doing it)
までに (made ni) = By (Finish it)

If you have a deadline, don’t forget the に (ni)!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I use “made ni” for “working”?: A1: If you say “5時までに働きます” (I work by 5), it sounds strange. It means you will *finish* the act of working at some point before 5. Usually, we say “5時まで働きます” (I work continuously until 5).
Q2: What is the difference between “made” and “kara”?: A2: から (kara) is the starting point (from). まで (made) is the ending point (until). They are often used together: 9時から5時まで (From 9 to 5).
Q3: Is “made ni” only for time?: A3: Mostly, yes. It is used for deadlines. “Next week,” “Tomorrow,” “5 PM.” It is rarely used for physical locations in this grammar pattern.