Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "yilai""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}
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{{Grammar Box}}  
  
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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.
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You can express "ever since" in Chinese using 以来 (yǐlái) after a time in the past. Just the word 来 (lái) can also play a similar role.
  
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== Structure with 以来 ==
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== Pattern with 以来 ==
  
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=== Basic form ===
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To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put 以来 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 continuous time period leading up to the present).
  
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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 event spoken  until the time that the speaker talks (in other words, referring to a certain time period).
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=== Structure ===
  
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This grammar patter is usually used to start a statement.
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This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Time / Event + 以来 ，⋯⋯
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Time or Event + 以来
 
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</div>
 
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==== Examples ====
 
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<div class="liju">
 
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*开学 <em>以来</em> ，我 每 个 星期二 有 中文 课 的 听写。<span class="trans">Since I started studying, I have a Chinese listening test every Tuesday.</span>
 
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*到 上海 <em>以来</em> ，他 的 汉语 水平 提高 了。<span class="trans">Ever since he came to Shanghai, his Chinese has been improving.</span>
 
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*申请 大学 <em>以来</em> ，她 总是 担心 她 的 未来。<span class="trans">Ever since applying to college, she has been worried about her future.</span>
 
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Form with 自, 从 or 自从 ===
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Although we won't go into detail here, note that when using 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can [[Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"|add 自, 从, or 自从]] (or other similar words) before the time or event to make it into a "sandwich pattern."
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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.
 
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<div class="jiegou">
 
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自/从/自从 + Time or Event + 以来
 
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</div>
 
  
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==== Examples ====
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=== Examples ===
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* <em>自从</em> 我 骑 自行车 <em>以来</em> 已经 有 五 年 了。<span class="trans">I've been riding my bike for five years.</span>
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*今年 八月 <em>以来</em> ，这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnnián Bāyuè <em>yǐlái</em>, zhèlǐ yīzhí méi xià guo yǔ.</span><span class="trans">It hasn't rained since August of this year.</span>
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* <em>自从</em> 昨天 <em>以来</em>，他 没有 吃 什么 东西。<span class="trans">He hasn't eaten anything since yesterday.</span>
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*结婚 <em>以来</em> ，我们 没 吵 过 架 。<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒmen méi chǎo guo jià.</span><span class="trans">Since we got married we haven't had a fight.</span>
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* <em>自</em> 古 <em>以来</em>，中国 社会 以 儒家 思想 为 主。<span class="trans">Since ancient times, Chinese society uses the Confucian philosophy.</span>
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*上 大学 <em>以来</em> ，他 变 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Shàng dàxué <em>yǐlái</em>, tā biàn le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">Since starting college, he's changed a lot.</span>
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* <em>从</em> 1979 年 改革开放 <em>以来</em>，中国人 的 生活水平 得到 了 提高。<span class="trans">Ever since the 1979 reform, the Chinese people's level of living has gone up.</span>
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*<strong>从</strong> 他 爸爸 去世 <em>以来</em> ，他 就 没有 回 过 家 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> tā bàba qùshì <em>yǐlái</em>, tā jiù méiyǒu huí guo jiā.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.</span>
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*<strong>从</strong> 我 学 汉语 <em>以来</em> ，我 认识 了 很多 中国 朋友 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> wǒ xué Hànyǔ <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒ rènshi le hěn duō Zhōngguó péngyou.</span><span class="trans">Since I started studying Chinese, I've made a lot of Chinese friends.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== Structure with 来 ==
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== Pattern with 来 ==
  
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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 have constantly had a headache." It doesn't have to be a specific number either, it could be "a few" (几).
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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 length of time, rather than a specific date. 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).
  
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This form cannot be used with 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words).
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Time Period + 来 ，⋯⋯
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</div>
  
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Time interval + 来
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This form cannot be used with 自, 从, or 自从 (or other similar words).
  
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</div>
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=== Examples ===
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==== Examples ====
 
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 三 个 月<em>来</em>，我们 去 了 很 多地方 旅游。<span class="trans">Since three months ago, we've traveled to a lot of places.</span>
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*十 年 <em>来</em>，房价 一直 在 涨 。<span class="pinyin">Shí nián <em>lái</em>, fángjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.</span><span class="trans">For the past decade, housing prices have been continuously going up.</span>
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* 五 年 <em>来</em>，物价 一直 上涨。<span class="trans">Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.</span>
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*几 年 <em>来</em> ，我们 公司 的 收入 一直 在 增加 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐ nián <em>lái</em>, wǒmen gōngsī de shōurù yīzhí zài zēngjiā.</span><span class="trans">Our company's income has been steadily increasing over the past few years.</span>
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* 我 的 同学 几 天 <em>来</em> 一直 没有 上课。<span class="trans">My classmate hasn't come to class for a few days now.</span>
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*实习 几 个 月 <em>来</em> ，我 学到 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Shíxí jǐ gè yuè <em>lái</em>, wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">I've learned a lot from my internship during the last few months.</span>
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*出国 几 个 月 <em>来</em> ，她 一点 也 不 想 家 。<span class="pinyin">Chūguó jǐ gè yuè <em>lái</em>, tā yīdiǎn yě bù xiǎng jiā.</span><span class="trans">She hasn't missed home at all since she went abroad a few month ago.</span>
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*离婚 这 几 年 <em>来</em> ，他 从 没 去 看 过 孩子 。<span class="pinyin">Líhūn zhè jǐ nián <em>lái</em>, tā cóng méi qù kàn guo háizi.</span><span class="trans">Since getting divorced these past few years, he's never visited his child.</span>
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*这 三 个 月 <em>来</em> ，我 每天 都 在 想 她。<span class="pinyin">Zhè sān ge yuè  <em>lái</em>, wǒ měitiān dōu zài xiǎng tā.</span><span class="trans">I've been missing her every day these past three months.</span>
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</div>
  
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</div>
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== See also ==
  
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==See also==
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*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
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*[[Before and After with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
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*[[Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"]]
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*[["(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"]]
 
  
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
 
== Sources and  further reading ==
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)]] (p. 203) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192 →buy]
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{{Source|New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)|203}}
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* [[Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)]] (p. 25) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617 →buy]
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{{Source|Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)|25}}
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* [[现代汉语八百词]] （p. 616) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001198GSW&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001198GSW →buy]
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{{Source|现代汉语八百词|616}}
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*[[卓越汉语－公司实战篇]] (p. 36) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD-%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87-%E8%83%A1%E7%81%B5%E5%9D%87/dp/B003QZWQ6M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347863170&sr=8-1 →buy]
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{{Source|卓越汉语－公司实战篇|36}}
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 5上|11}}
  
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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{{HSK|HSK5}}
 
[[Category:Time]]
 
[[Category:Time]]
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{{Similar|"(Ever) Since" with "(zi)cong"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"}}
 
{{Similar|Before and After with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
 
{{Similar|Before and After with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
 
{{Similar|Sequencing past events with "houlai"}}
 
{{Similar|Sequencing past events with "houlai"}}
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{{Basic Grammar|以来|B1|…以来|八月份 <em>以来</em>。|grammar point|ASGNEMXP}}
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{{Similar|Comparing "li" and "cong"}}
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{{Similar|Expressing "as early as" using "zaozai……"}}
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{{Basic Grammar|以来|B1|Time / Event + 以来 ，⋯⋯|今年 八月 <em>以来</em> ，这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。|grammar point|ASGNEMXP}}
 
{{Rel char|来}}
 
{{Rel char|来}}
 
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
 
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}

Latest revision as of 09:42, 12 April 2019

You can express "ever since" in Chinese using 以来 (yǐlái) after a time in the past. Just the word 来 (lái) can also play a similar role.

Pattern with 以来

To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put 以来 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 continuous time period leading up to the present).

Structure

This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.

Time / Event + 以来 ，⋯⋯

Although we won't go into detail here, note that when using 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 to make it into a "sandwich pattern."

Examples

  • 今年 八月 以来 ，这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。Jīnnián Bāyuè yǐlái, zhèlǐ yīzhí méi xià guo yǔ.It hasn't rained since August of this year.
  • 结婚 以来 ，我们 没 吵 过 架 。Jiéhūn yǐlái, wǒmen méi chǎo guo jià.Since we got married we haven't had a fight.
  • 上 大学 以来 ，他 变 了 很 多 。Shàng dàxué yǐlái, tā biàn le hěn duō.Since starting college, he's changed a lot.
  • 从 他 爸爸 去世 以来 ，他 就 没有 回 过 家 。Cóng tā bàba qùshì yǐlái, tā jiù méiyǒu huí guo jiā.He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.
  • 从 我 学 汉语 以来 ，我 认识 了 很多 中国 朋友 。Cóng wǒ xué Hànyǔ yǐlái, wǒ rènshi le hěn duō Zhōngguó péngyou.Since I started studying Chinese, I've made a lot of Chinese friends.

Pattern 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 length of time, rather than a specific date. 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 Period + 来 ，⋯⋯

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

Examples

  • 十 年 来，房价 一直 在 涨 。Shí nián lái, fángjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.For the past decade, housing prices have been continuously going up.
  • 几 年 来 ，我们 公司 的 收入 一直 在 增加 。Jǐ nián lái, wǒmen gōngsī de shōurù yīzhí zài zēngjiā.Our company's income has been steadily increasing over the past few years.
  • 实习 几 个 月 来 ，我 学到 了 很 多 。Shíxí jǐ gè yuè lái, wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.I've learned a lot from my internship during the last few months.
  • 出国 几 个 月 来 ，她 一点 也 不 想 家 。Chūguó jǐ gè yuè lái, tā yīdiǎn yě bù xiǎng jiā.She hasn't missed home at all since she went abroad a few month ago.
  • 离婚 这 几 年 来 ，他 从 没 去 看 过 孩子 。Líhūn zhè jǐ nián lái, tā cóng méi qù kàn guo háizi.Since getting divorced these past few years, he's never visited his child.
  • 这 三 个 月 来 ，我 每天 都 在 想 她。Zhè sān ge yuè lái, wǒ měitiān dōu zài xiǎng tā.I've been missing her every day these past three months.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

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