Expressing "ever since" with "yilai"

There are a few ways to express "ever since" in Chinese. In English, we would say something like "ever since I came to Shanghai, my Chinese has improved a lot." In this article, we will first take a look at using 以来 (yǐlái) to mean "ever since." We will also take a quick look at using "ever since" with 来 (lái), which is similar but used in a somewhat different way.

Structure with 以来

Basic Pattern

To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put "以来" (yǐlái) after a specific event or time. It expresses what has happened since the stated event until the time that the speaker talks (in other words, referring to a certain time period).

Structure

Time / Event + 以来 ，⋯⋯

This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.

Examples

• 毕业 以来 ，他 一直 在 教 英语 。Bìyè yǐlái, tā yīzhí zài jiāo Yīngyǔ.Since I was in college, I haven't skipped a class.
• 结婚 以来 ，我们 从来 没 吵 过 架 。Jiéhūn yǐlái, wǒmen cónglái méi chǎo guo jià.We've never had a fight since we got married.
• 改革 开放 以来 ，中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Gǎigé kāifàng yǐlái, Zhōngguó shèhuì fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.

Tremendous changes have been taken place in China since the reform and opening up.

Advanced Pattern

When you need to use 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can add 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words) before the time or event.

Structure

自 / 从 / 自从 + Time or Event + 以来

Examples

• 自从 去年 圣诞节以来，他 一直 没有 回 过 家 。Zìcóng qùnián xiàtiān yǐlái, tā yīzhí méiyǒu huí guo jiā.He hasn't returned home since last Christmas.
• 自从辞职以来，我 都 在 旅行 。Zìcóng cízhí yǐlái, wǒ dōu zài lǚxíng.I've been traveling since I quit my job.

Used with 来

Using 来 to mean "ever since" is basically the same as "以来," however, there is one key difference: you can only use 来 after a time interval. In other words, it needs to be used with a certain number of years, months, days, hours etc. In English this would be like saying "ever since three days ago, I've had a constant headache." It doesn't have to be a specific number either, it could be "a few" (几).

Structure

Time Interval + 来

This form cannot be used with 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words).

Examples

• 三 个 月来，我们 去 了 很 多地方 旅游。Sān gè yuè lái, wǒmen qù le hěn duō dìfang lǚyóu.Since three months ago, we've traveled to a lot of places.
• 五 年 来，物价 一直 上涨。Wǔ nián lái, wùjià yīzhí shàngzhǎng.Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.
• 我 的 同学 几 天 来 一直 没有 上课。Wǒ de tóngxué jǐ tiān lái yīzhí méiyǒu shàngkè.My classmate hasn't come to class for a few days now.

See also

• Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"
• "Ever since" with "zicong"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 203) →buy
• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (p. 25) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词 （p. 616) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 36) →buy