GRAMMAR DETAIL

～までに

by; no later than

Follows a time or point in time to set a deadline by which an action must be completed.

Examples

明日の朝までに返事をください。

Please reply by tomorrow morning.

金曜日までに申込書を提出してください。

Please submit the application form by Friday.

Structure: A deadline takes までに.
Basic usage: 明日の朝までに返事をください。 sets tomorrow morning as the deadline for replying.

Compared with continuing まで
- 五時まで待つ marks the end of continued waiting; 五時までに来る sets a deadline for arrival. Distinguish the presence of に.
Deadline and specified time
- 金曜日までに出す makes Friday the deadline, while 金曜日に出す specifies Friday as the submission day. The former also allows earlier submission.