German question...?

Question

What's the difference between "bis" and "zu" in German? Because don't they both mean "to"?

Answer 1

German prepositions differ greatly from English.

von 10 bis 11 Uhr
from 10am to 11am

es ist 20 vor 10
the time is 20 to 10

ich fahre nach Deutschland
i am travelling to Germany

Berlin schlägt Köln 4 zu 2
Berlin beats Cologne 4 to 2

It all depends where you use it. Don't try to translate prepositions, learn them in their appropriate context.

Answer 2

to can have many translation in German, including bis, zu, and nach. It all depends on the sentence. The difference is which word form to is in English. Not ealy when learning a new language, but be assured, I had the same issue when I learned English!

Examples: From 9 to 5 = Von 9 bis 5
I love to read = Ich liebe es zu lesen/Ich lese gerne
I go to my friend's house = Ich gehe zu meinem Freund
I go to Berlin = Ich gehe nach Berlin

Answer 3

Byteofk explained 'bis' well. It basically means until and is used a lot in time. It's an accusative preposition.

'Zu', however, can be and is used several ways. It's also a dative preposition and can be contracted (zu+dem = zum, and zu+der = zur, like in English there's do not = don't and they are = they're). These are all the ways I've seen it:

-To places that are not a proper noun.
Example: Wir gehen zu der Schule. (We go to the school)
*Some people above me mentioned using 'nach' for to. If the place is a proper noun, you use nach. You'd say "Wir fahren nach Connecticut" (we drive to connecticut), for example.
Remember that nach uses the dative case as well.

- To a person's place of business
Example: Er geht zu dem Artzt. (He goes to the doctor)

- To a person's house.
Example: Ich gehe zu meiner Freundin. (I go to my female friend)

- An occasion such as a dinner or holiday (English equivalent to 'for' in this case)
Example: Was hast du zu dem Abendessen gegessen? (What did you eat for dinner?)

Answer 4

bis means until,'til; till; to; by, through
heres a small saying from a rammstein song
"Und die Welt zählt laut bis zehn" and the world counts loud to ten. Bis is mainly used for counting, numbers and other things.
zu is a dative propsition
zu means it has direct objects(best way i can explain it)
example komm zu mir- come to me
Ich habe noch zu hausafgaben- I have some homework to do.
I hope i helped

Answer 5

I work until 6 everyday.
Ich arbeite bis 6 jeden Tag.

I go to the shop
Ich gehe zu das Geschaft (if it's an object)

Ich go to Spain
Ich gehe nach Spanien (if it's a town or country)

Answer 6

zu is "to go" toward or with.
bis is used to request an additional performance.

Answer 7

bis - until
zu - to

Answer 8

bis = until; 'til; till; to; by
zu = to

Answer 9

bis ----- until
zu--- to

Answer 10

I thought "to" was "nach"