# までに: by; no later than
> Learn how to use までに, a JLPT N4 Japanese grammar point meaning by; no later than, with structure, nuance, examples, mistakes, and comparisons.
JLPT level: N4 · Updated: 2026-05-17 · Canonical: https://hane-app.com/blog/n4-made-ni/
**までに** means **by; no later than**. It is a **JLPT N4** Japanese grammar pattern used to express the N4 idea of “by; by the time” in natural Japanese.
This grammar point often appears in conversation, written explanations, formal notices, and JLPT-style reading questions. If you want to express the N4 idea of “by; by the time” in natural Japanese, **までに** is a useful pattern to learn after the N5 basics.
## What does までに mean?
Use **までに** when you want to express the N4 idea of “by; by the time” in natural Japanese.
Natural translations include:
- by
- by the time
- indicates time limit
The exact English translation changes with context. Focus on what the grammar point does in the sentence first, then choose the English phrase that sounds natural.
## How to form までに
Examples of the pattern:
- 三時
- 寝る
- までに
Pay attention to the word form before the pattern. Many JLPT N4 mistakes happen because the meaning is understood, but the grammar is attached to the wrong form.
## When is までに used?
Use **までに** in situations like:
- explaining a condition, reason, decision, comparison, or time relationship
- making a sentence more specific than a basic N5 pattern
- understanding natural Japanese in conversation or reading
Tone and register:
- neutral unless the grammar itself is marked as casual, humble, honorific, or formal
- Common in daily speech, textbook examples, and JLPT N4 reading questions
## までに example sentences
三時までに来てください。
Please come by three o’clock.
金曜日までに宿題を出します。
I will submit the homework by Friday.
寝るまでに薬を飲んでください。
Please take the medicine before you sleep.
来月までに引っ越します。
I will move by next month.
先生が来るまでに準備しましょう。
Let’s prepare by the time the teacher comes.
Read the Japanese sentence first, then check the English translation. Try to notice what the grammar point contributes: condition, timing, limitation, possibility, decision, politeness, contrast, or emphasis.
## Nuance of までに
The key nuance is **by; by the time in a sentence-specific context**.
This matters because **までに** may look simple in English, but the Japanese form tells you whether the speaker is describing a time, a condition, a decision, a possibility, a contrast, or a social relationship.
For example:
- In context, **までに** helps make the sentence more precise than a direct English translation.
- Compared with **まで**, it has a different focus even when both patterns appear in similar sentences.
## までに vs まで
Both **までに** and **まで** can appear in related sentences, but they are different.
までに
by; no later than (deadline)
Use when setting a time limit for an action to be completed.
三時までに来てください。
Please come by three o’clock.
vs
まで
until; up to (duration endpoint)
Use when describing an action or state that continues up to a point.
三時まで待ちます。
I will wait until three o’clock.
If you are unsure which one to use, identify the main job of the sentence before translating it into English.
## Common mistakes with までに
❌
三時までに待ちます。
✅
三時まで待ちます。
Use まで for “until,” because the action continues up to that point. までに sets a deadline for completion.
❌
寝たまでに薬を飲んでください。
✅
寝るまでに薬を飲んでください。
Attach までに to the dictionary form of a verb, not the past tense.
❌
図書館までに本を返します。
✅
図書館に行くまでに本を返します。
A simple location noun cannot attach directly to までに. You need a time noun or a verb phrase indicating a deadline.
A good study habit is to write one short sentence and then change only the grammar point. This makes the difference between similar patterns easier to feel.
## Is までに on the JLPT?
N4
までに is connected to JLPT N4 grammar.
- Recognize it in reading
- Understand its nuance in context
- Use it in simple original sentences
For test preparation, do not only memorize the English gloss. Practice identifying the words around the grammar point, because JLPT questions often test structure and context together.
## Practice questions for までに
1
Write one sentence using the basic Time / Verb + までに pattern.
production
2
Change the sentence into polite or casual style and notice what shifts.
style
3
Compare your sentence with まで: rewrite it using the related pattern and check whether the meaning changes.
contrast
Keep the sentences short at first. Once the form feels natural, add time words, places, reasons, or contrast to make the sentence more realistic.
## Learning path for までに
Use **までに** as part of your **JLPT N4** time and sequence grammar toolkit. Start by checking the time relationship: whether the event is continuing, finishing, about to happen, or must happen before a deadline. Then compare **までに** with nearby sequence patterns so you can choose the grammar that matches the exact point in time.
1
Make one short sentence with までに and test whether the deadline is clear.
2
Compare it with たばかり to feel the difference between “by” and “just after.”
3
Add たところ or ているところ to see how the nuance of timing and state changes.
4
Write one sentence that uses までに in its most literal meaning, one sentence that changes the subject or time expression, and one sentence that contrasts it with まで.
## Related grammar to review next
- [たばかり](/blog/n4-ta-bakari/) — keeps you in the same time/sequence family so you can compare event timing.
- [たところ](/blog/n4-ta-tokoro/) — keeps you in the same time/sequence family so you can compare event timing.
- [ているところ](/blog/n4-teiru-tokoro/) — keeps you in the same time/sequence family so you can compare event timing.
- [ところ](/blog/n4-tokoro/) — keeps you in the same time/sequence family so you can compare event timing.
Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)
## Learn までに with Hane
If you want to review **までに** together with the related patterns above, Hane helps you practice Japanese in short, focused sessions.
Browse more lessons here:
- [All grammar lessons](/blog/)
- [JLPT N4 grammar lessons](/blog/n4/)