結婚式までに、ボスのスーツから血の染みを抜いておいてくれ。
Get the bloodstains out of the boss’s suit by the time of the wedding.
までに is all about setting a deadline. It tells you the absolute last moment you got to get something done. Think of it like this: the homies tell you to get the money ready by midnight. You don’t have to be counting it until midnight, you just gotta have it all sorted before that clock strikes twelve. It’s for a single, one-and-done action.
This is different from its cousin, まで (made). まで is for an action that keeps goin’ on and on until a certain point. Like, “I was on the lookout until 5 AM.” See the difference? までに is a deadline for a drop; まで is the whole stakeout.
Think of までに like the final countdown in a heist movie. The crew has to crack the safe, grab the cash, and get out of the vault by the time the silent alarm trips. The action—getting out—has to be completed before that deadline. If they’re still in there until the alarm goes off (まで), they’re busted. までに is that critical moment you gotta beat the clock. You finish the job, and you’re out. That’s the whole vibe.
Task: Try to conjugate some different verbs to practice the rule.
Peep this chart to see how to put it all together.
| Form | How It Hooks Up | Example | Translation |
| Noun | Noun (representing time) + までに | 金曜日までに | By Friday |
| Verb | Verb (Dictionary Form) + までに | ボスが来るまでに | By the time the boss comes |
It’s simple, ya dig? You just slap までに on the end of a noun that represents a point in time, like a day of the week, a specific time, or a date. Or, you can stick it on the end of a verb in its dictionary form to set the deadline as “by the time X happens.” For example, 警察が来るまでに means “by the time the cops arrive.” You ain’t waiting for them to show up; you gotta be gone before that moment.
Task: Try to shadow at least 5 sentences perfectly.
Check out these examples from the life.
ボスは金曜日までに仕事を終えろと言った。
The boss said to finish the job by Friday.
今夜までにあの裏切り者を見つけ出せ。
Find that traitor by tonight.
運転手は午前３時までにここに来ることになっている。
The getaway driver is supposed to be here by 3 AM.
ドンは明日の晩餐までに返事を欲しがっている。
The Don wants an answer by tomorrow’s dinner.
強盗が始まるまでに、逃走ルートを暗記しろ。
Memorize the escape route by the time the heist begins.
取引の時間までに偽札を準備しておかなければならない。
We have to get the counterfeit money ready by the time of the deal.
誰かに見つかるまでに、この盗んだ車を捨てなきゃ。
I gotta ditch this stolen car by the time someone finds it.
新入りは月末までに忠誠を証明する必要がある。
The new guys need to prove their loyalty by the end of the month.
年末までにこの汚い金を全部きれいにしないと。
We gotta launder all this dirty money by the end of the year.
身代金の要求は正午までに届けなければならない。
The ransom demand must be delivered by noon.
Task: Try to guess what each word actually means.
Here’s some new vocab you gotta know to run these streets.
隠す
[かくす] Keepin’ your moves on the down-low so the opps don’t see you comin’.
裏切り者
[うらぎりもの] A snake in your crew who sells you out to the other side for some cheese.
見つけ出す
[みつけだす] When you gotta hunt down that cat who owes you, no matter where he’s hidin’.
運転手
[うんてんしゅ] The wheelman who gets you away from the spot clean after the job is done.
晩餐
[ばんさん] That big-time feast you have with your day ones before you go handle some serious business, kinda like the Last Supper.
強盗
[ごうとう] Runnin’ up in a spot and takin’ everything that ain’t nailed down.
暗記する
[あんきする] Lockin’ the whole plan in your dome ’cause you can’t leave no paper trail for the feds.
取引
[とりひき] Makin’ a play or a deal, makin’ sure both sides get what they came for, no funny business.
偽札
[にせさつ] That funny money you use to grease the wheels or make a quick come-up.
準備する
[じゅんびする] Gettin’ your mind and your tools right before you step out to handle your business.
新入り
[しんいり] The new blood on the block who’s gotta earn his stripes and show he ain’t a liability.
忠誠
[ちゅうせい] Ridin’ or dyin’ for your set, no matter what goes down.
証明する
[しょうめいする] Puttin’ in that work to show the whole crew what you’re really about.
身代金
[みのしろきん] The bag you demand to get someone back when they’ve been snatched up by the enemy.
要求
[ようきゅう] Layin’ down what you want, and best believe, it ain’t a suggestion.
Keep it 100. Peace out.
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