Chinese phrase
直到〜，这项制度才基本定型 zhí dào 〜 zhè xiàng zhì dù cái jī běn dìng xíng
Meaning
It was only in ___ that this system took its basic form
When to use it
A system did not take its basic form until a specified time. The time phrase fills the blank, and the pattern often highlights a later-than-expected result.
Example dialogue
中国古代的官僚制度是什么时候基本定型的？ zhōng guó gǔ dài de guān liáo zhì dù shì shén me shí hòu jī běn dìng xíng de
When did the ancient Chinese bureaucratic system take its basic form?
直到隋唐时期，这项制度才基本定型。 zhí dào suí táng shí qī zhè xiàng zhì dù cái jī běn dìng xíng
It was only in the Sui and Tang dynasties that this system took its basic form.