Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai""
 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
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While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "later," they have distinct uses. 然后 (ránhòu) means "and then." Don't let yet another 后 word confuse you!
  
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== 以后 is used for the future in general ==
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== 然后 as "And Then" ==
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以后 is used when talking about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future. 以后 can also be used to talk about events that happened after other events in a story.
 
  
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===Structure ===
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然后 is a conjunction, which is always used in the middle of a sequence of events. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first"). Neither 以后 nor 后来 can be used this way.
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<div class="jiegou">
+
 
−
以后， + Subject + Verb + Object
+
<div class="liju">
 +
*我们 <strong>先</strong> 复习 一下 ，<em>然后</em> 上 新 课 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>xiān</strong> fùxí yīxià, <em>ránhòu</em> shàng xīn kè.</span><span class="trans">Let's do some review first and then study a new lesson.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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=== Examples ===
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=== Common Mistakes ===
 +
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 +
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
−
<li class="o"><em>以后</em>，我打算去中国找工作。</li>
+
<li class="x">我们 <strong>先</strong> 复习 一下 ，<em>以后</em> 上 新 课 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen <strong>xiān</strong> fùxí yīxià, <em>yǐhòu</em> shàng xīn kè.</span><span class="trans">Let's do some review first and then study a new lesson.</span></li>
−
<li class="o">他<em>以后</em>，不想住在日本。</li>
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<li class="x">我 打算 先 住 朋友家 ，<em>以后</em> 找 房子 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ dǎsuàn xiān zhù péngyou jiā, <em>yǐhòu</em> zhǎo fángzi.</span><span class="trans">My plan is to stay at my friend's friend, and then find a place to live.</span></li>
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<li class="x">我<strong>后来</strong>不喝葡萄酒。</li>
+
<li class="x">我们 下周 去 北京 出差 ，<em>以后</em> 去 欧洲 度假 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xiàzhōu qù Běijīng chūchāi, <em>yǐhòu</em> qù Ōuzhōu dùjià.</span><span class="trans">We're going to Beijing on a business trip, and after that we'll go to Europe on vacation.</span></li>
−
<li class="x"><strong>后来</strong>，我要回家睡觉。</li>
 
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 +
 +
</div>
 +
 +
Simply swapping 以后 for 然后 in each of these sentences would make them correct.
 +
 +
=== 然后 without 先 ===
 +
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*我们 在 楼下 见 ，<em>然后</em> 一起 走 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zài lóuxià jiàn, <em>ránhòu</em> yīqǐ zǒu.</span><span class="trans">We'll meet downstairs and then we go together.</span>
 +
*宝宝 醒了 ，哭 了 一会儿 ，<em>然后</em> 又 睡着 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bǎobao xǐng le, kū le yīhuìr, <em>ránhòu</em> yòu shuìzháo le.</span><span class="trans">The baby woke up. He cried for a little while and then fell asleep again.</span>
 +
*中国 是 人口 最多 的 发展中 国家 ，<em>然后</em> 是 印度 。<span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó shì rénkǒu zuì duō de fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā, <em>ránhòu</em> shì Yìndù.</span><span class="trans">China is the biggest developing country and then it's India.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 以后 is used for things occurring after a specific time ==
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== Usage of 以后 ==
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以后 can be used to describe actions or events that occur after a specific time.
 
  
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=== Structure ===
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=== 以后 as "In the Future" ===
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<div class="jiegou">
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−
Time + 以后， Subject + Verb + Object
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以后 is a time noun, which can be used to talk about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future while 然后 and 后来 can't be used this way.
 +
 
 +
A few examples:
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
*我 <em>以后</em> 想 开 公司 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǐhòu</em> xiǎng kāi gōngsī.</span><span class="trans">I want to start up my own business in the future.</span>
 +
*请 你 <em>以后</em> 别 来 了 。<span class="pinyin">Qǐng nǐ <em>yǐhòu</em> bié lái le.</span><span class="trans">Please stop coming here in the future.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
 +
 +
=== 以后 as "After" ===
  
 
Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence).  
 
Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence).  
  
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=== Examples ===
+
A few examples:
−
<div class=liju>  
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−
<ul>
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<div class="liju">
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<li class="o">两个星期<em>以后</em>，我回美国。</li>
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*我 一 个 小时 <em>以后</em> 回来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yī gè xiǎoshí <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans"> I will come back in an hour.</span>
−
<li class="o"><em>以后</em>，我们可能去吃饭。</li>
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*毕业 <em>以后</em> 他 出国 了 。<span class="pinyin">Bìyè <em>yǐhòu</em> tā chūguó le.</span><span class="trans">He went abroad after he graduated.</span>
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<li class="o">十年 <em>以后</em>，你 会 变成 什么 样子？</li>
 
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<li class="o">从 那 <em>以后</em>，我 再 也 没 见 过 她。</li>
 
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<li class="x">两 个 星期 <strong>后来</strong> ，我们 回 美国 了。</li>
 
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<li class="o">两 个 星期 <em>以后</em> ，我们 回 美国 了。</li>
 
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<li class="x">两年<strong>后来</strong>，我准喝酒。</li>
 
−
<li class="x">六点<strong>后来</strong>，我下班。</li>
 
−
</ul>
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== 后来 is used for sequencing past events ==
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== 后来 as "Afterwards" ==
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后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "Afterward".
+
 
 +
后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "afterward."  
  
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=== Strucure ===
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=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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Past Event #1 + 后来 + Past Event #2
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[Past Event 1] ，后来 + [Past Event 2]
−
</div>  
+
</div>
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
 +
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
−
<li class="o">去年 我们 分手 了，<em>后来</em> 再 也 没 见 过 她。</li>
+
<li class="x">他 在 我们 公司 干 过 两 年 ，<em>以后</em> 跳槽 <strong>了</strong>  。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī gàn guo liǎng nián, <em>yǐhòu</em> tiàocáo <strong>le</strong>.</span></li>
−
<li class="o">我 六点 下班，<em>后来</em> 去 吃饭。</li>
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<li class="o">他 在 我们 公司 干 过 两 年 ，<em>后来</em> 跳槽 <strong>了</strong>  。<span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī gàn guo liǎng nián, <em>hòulái</em> tiàocáo <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">He worked for our company for two years, and then he jumped ship.</span></li>
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<li class="o">我们 在 一起 两 个 月， 两 个 月<em>以后</em> 就 分手了。</li>
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<li class="x"><em>以后</em> 他 去 <strong>了</strong> 美国 ，<em>然后</em> 他 的 父母 也 搬 过去 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em> tā qù <strong>le</strong> Měiguó. <em>Ránhòu</em> tā de fùmǔ yě bān guòqù <strong>le</strong>.</span>
−
<li class="x">昨天 晚上 我 打电话 给 我 妈妈 <strong>以后</strong> 做饭。</li>
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<li class="o"><em>后来</em> 他 去 <strong>了</strong> 美国 ，<em>然后</em> 他 的 父母 也 搬 过去 <strong>了</strong> 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Hòulái</em> tā qù <strong>le</strong> Měiguó. <em>Ránhòu</em> tā de fùmǔ yě bān guòqù <strong>le</strong>.</span><span class="trans">Afterwards he moved to the US. And then his parents also moved over there.</span></li>
−
<li class="x">他 八点 起床 <strong>以后</strong> 去 吃 早饭。</li>
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<li class="x">他们 大学 的时候 在一起 过 ，<em>以后</em> 分手了 。 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen dàxué de shíhou zài yīqǐ guo, <em>yǐhòu</em> fēnshǒu le.</span></li>
−
<li class="x">我们 在 一起 两 个 月， <strong>以后</strong> 就 分手了。</li>
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<li class="o">他们 大学 的时候 在一起 过 ，<em>后</em> 分手了 。 <span class="pinyin">Tāmen dàxué de shíhou zài yīqǐ guo, <em>hòulái</em> fēnshǒu le.</span></li>
−
<li class="o">我们 在 一起 两 个 月， <em>后来</em> 就 分手了。</li>
+
</ul>
 +
</div>
 +
 
 +
== Example Dialog ==
 +
 
 +
<div class="liju">
 +
<ul class="dialog">
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 我 <strong>先</strong> 去 你 家 ，<em>然后</em> 我们 一起 去 见 她 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ <strong>xiān</strong> qù nǐ jiā, <em>ránhòu</em> wǒmen yīqǐ qù jiàn tā.</span><span class="trans">I'll go to your house first, then we can go together to see her.</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">B:</span> 好的 。我 好久 没 见 她 了 ！ 她 出国 <em>以后</em> 你们 见过面 吗 ？<span class="pinyin">Hǎo de. Wǒ hǎojiǔ méi jiàn tā le! Tā chūguó <em>yǐhòu</em> nǐmen jiàn guo miàn ma?</span><span class="trans">Sure. I haven't seen her in so long! Have you seen each other since she went abroad?</span></li>
 +
<li><span class="speaker">A:</span> 见 过 一次  ，<em>后来</em> 再也 没见过 。<span class="pinyin">Jiàn guo yī cì, <em>hòulái</em> zài yě méi jiàn guo.</span><span class="trans">We met once, but I haven't seen her since then.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==
 +
 +
*[[In the future in general]]
 +
*[[Sequencing past events with "houlai"]]
 +
*[[After a specific time]]
 +
*[[Comparing "houlai" and "ranhou"]]
  
 
== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
 
=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
−
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (以后 vs 后来 p.5) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
−
*[[现代汉语八百词（增订本）]] (p. 614) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy]
 
−
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 268) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
 
−
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 26 - 27) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
 
−
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2]] (pp. 294) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
 
−
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 267) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108  →buy]
 
  
 +
{{Source|对外汉语教学语法释疑201例|5}}
 +
{{Source|对外汉语教学语法释疑201例|7}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|461}}
 +
{{Source|现代汉语八百词（增订本）|614}}
 +
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|268}}
 +
{{Source|Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar|26 - 27}}
 +
{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2|294}}
 +
{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|267}}
 +
 +
=== Dictionaries ===
  
 +
{{Source|现代汉语词典（第5版）|570}}
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
−
{{Basic Grammar|以后|B1|以后 vs 后来| <em>后来</em> 他 去 了 美国 ， 不 知道 <em>以后</em> 什么 时候 会 再 见 到 他 。|grammar point|ASGNPJ7T}}
+
{{HSK|HSK3}}
 +
{{Basic Grammar|以后|B2|以后 vs. 然后 vs. 后来|我 <em>以后</em> 想 开 公司 。/ <em>后来</em> 他 去 了 美国 ，<em>然后</em> 他 的 父母 也 搬 过去 了 。|grammar point|ASGNPJ7T}}
 +
{{Rel char|然后}}
 
{{Rel char|后来}}
 
{{Rel char|后来}}
 
{{Similar|in the future in general}}
 
{{Similar|in the future in general}}
Line 87: Line 122:
 
{{Similar|After a specific time}}
 
{{Similar|After a specific time}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
 
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
−
{{Comparison}}
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{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
 +
{{Used for|Expressing order}}
 +
{{Translation|later}}
 +
{{Translation|after}}
 +
{{Comparison|Time Words}}

Latest revision as of 07:39, 19 January 2021

While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "later," they have distinct uses. 然后 (ránhòu) means "and then." Don't let yet another 后 word confuse you!

然后 as "And Then"

然后 is a conjunction, which is always used in the middle of a sequence of events. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first"). Neither 以后 nor 后来 can be used this way.

  • 我们 先 复习 一下 ，然后 上 新 课 。Wǒmen xiān fùxí yīxià, ránhòu shàng xīn kè.Let's do some review first and then study a new lesson.

Common Mistakes

  • 我们 先 复习 一下 ，以后 上 新 课 。Wǒmen xiān fùxí yīxià, yǐhòu shàng xīn kè.Let's do some review first and then study a new lesson.
  • 我 打算 先 住 朋友家 ，以后 找 房子 。Wǒ dǎsuàn xiān zhù péngyou jiā, yǐhòu zhǎo fángzi.My plan is to stay at my friend's friend, and then find a place to live.
  • 我们 下周 去 北京 出差 ，以后 去 欧洲 度假 。Wǒmen xiàzhōu qù Běijīng chūchāi, yǐhòu qù Ōuzhōu dùjià.We're going to Beijing on a business trip, and after that we'll go to Europe on vacation.

Simply swapping 以后 for 然后 in each of these sentences would make them correct.

然后 without 先

  • 我们 在 楼下 见 ，然后 一起 走 。Wǒmen zài lóuxià jiàn, ránhòu yīqǐ zǒu.We'll meet downstairs and then we go together.
  • 宝宝 醒了 ，哭 了 一会儿 ，然后 又 睡着 了 。Bǎobao xǐng le, kū le yīhuìr, ránhòu yòu shuìzháo le.The baby woke up. He cried for a little while and then fell asleep again.
  • 中国 是 人口 最多 的 发展中 国家 ，然后 是 印度 。Zhōngguó shì rénkǒu zuì duō de fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā, ránhòu shì Yìndù.China is the biggest developing country and then it's India.

Usage of 以后

以后 as "In the Future"

以后 is a time noun, which can be used to talk about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future while 然后 and 后来 can't be used this way.

A few examples:

  • 我 以后 想 开 公司 。Wǒ yǐhòu xiǎng kāi gōngsī.I want to start up my own business in the future.
  • 请 你 以后 别 来 了 。Qǐng nǐ yǐhòu bié lái le.Please stop coming here in the future.

以后 as "After"

Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence).

A few examples:

  • 我 一 个 小时 以后 回来 。Wǒ yī gè xiǎoshí yǐhòu huílái. I will come back in an hour.
  • 毕业 以后 他 出国 了 。Bìyè yǐhòu tā chūguó le.He went abroad after he graduated.

后来 as "Afterwards"

后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "afterward."

Structure

[Past Event 1] ，后来 + [Past Event 2]

Examples

  • 他 在 我们 公司 干 过 两 年 ，以后 跳槽 了 。Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī gàn guo liǎng nián, yǐhòu tiàocáo le.
  • 他 在 我们 公司 干 过 两 年 ，后来 跳槽 了 。Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī gàn guo liǎng nián, hòulái tiàocáo le.He worked for our company for two years, and then he jumped ship.
  • 以后 他 去 了 美国 ，然后 他 的 父母 也 搬 过去 了 。Yǐhòu tā qù le Měiguó. Ránhòu tā de fùmǔ yě bān guòqù le.
  • 后来 他 去 了 美国 ，然后 他 的 父母 也 搬 过去 了 。Hòulái tā qù le Měiguó. Ránhòu tā de fùmǔ yě bān guòqù le.Afterwards he moved to the US. And then his parents also moved over there.
  • 他们 大学 的时候 在一起 过 ，以后 分手了 。 Tāmen dàxué de shíhou zài yīqǐ guo, yǐhòu fēnshǒu le.
  • 他们 大学 的时候 在一起 过 ，后 分手了 。 Tāmen dàxué de shíhou zài yīqǐ guo, hòulái fēnshǒu le.

Example Dialog

  • A: 我 先 去 你 家 ，然后 我们 一起 去 见 她 。Wǒ xiān qù nǐ jiā, ránhòu wǒmen yīqǐ qù jiàn tā.I'll go to your house first, then we can go together to see her.
  • B: 好的 。我 好久 没 见 她 了 ！ 她 出国 以后 你们 见过面 吗 ？Hǎo de. Wǒ hǎojiǔ méi jiàn tā le! Tā chūguó yǐhòu nǐmen jiàn guo miàn ma?Sure. I haven't seen her in so long! Have you seen each other since she went abroad?
  • A: 见 过 一次 ，后来 再也 没见过 。Jiàn guo yī cì, hòulái zài yě méi jiàn guo.We met once, but I haven't seen her since then.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries


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