After a specific time with "yihou"

Just as 以前 (yǐqián) can be used to describe the events before a specific time, 以后 (yǐhòu) can be used to describe the events after a specific time.

Structure

This grammar structure is similar to the English "after such-and-such, something happens." It's quite simple, all you have to do is put the "after" after the time words or time phrase.

Time + 以后， Subj. + Verb + Obj.

Verb + 以后， Subj. + Verb + Obj.

The time can be a time or date, or an action or event. It may or may not be in the future.

Examples

• 下午 三点 以后， 我 不 在 家。 Xiàwǔ sāndiǎn yǐhòu, wǒ bù zài jiā. After three p.m., I will not be at home.
• 来 中国 以后， 她 认识 了 她 的 老公。 Lái Zhōngguó yǐhòu, tā rènshi le tā de lǎogōng. After coming to China, she met her husband.
• 她 一个月 以后 开始 上班。Tā yī gè yuè yǐhòu kāishǐ shàngbān. After one month, she will start working.
• 吃 完 午饭 以后 ， 我们 要 开会。Chī wán wǔfàn yǐhòu, wǒmen yào kāihuì. We are going to have a meeting after we finish lunch.
• 几年 以后 ，我们 公司 会 更 大。 Jǐnián yǐhòu, wǒmen gōngsī huì gèng dà. In a few years, our company will be even bigger.
• 老板 半个小时 以后 回来。Lǎobǎn bàn gè xiǎoshí yǐhòu huílái. After half an hour, the boss will return.
• 下班 以后你 想 跟 我们 一起 去 酒吧 吗? Xiàbān yǐhòu, nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒmen yīqǐ qù jiǔbā ma? After we get off work, would you like to go to a bar with us?
• 老板 来 了 以后 ，大家 都 不 说话 了。 Lǎobǎn lái le yǐhòu, dàjiā dōu bù shuōhuà le. After the boss came, everyone stopped talking.
• 你 到家 以后 给 我 打电话。Nǐ dào jiā yǐhòu gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà. After you get home, call me.
• 结婚 以后 爸爸 不 喝酒 了。 Jiéhūn yǐhòu bàba bù hējiǔ le. After he got married, dad stopped drinking.

Note that this use of 以后 (yǐhòu) is often shortened to 后 (hòu).

See also

• Before a specific time
• In the future in general
• At the time when
• Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"

Sources and further reading

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 261) →buy

Property "Is similar to" (as page type) with input value "Before a time" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.

Property "Is similar to" (as page type) with input value "Before a time" contains invalid characters or is incomplete and therefore can cause unexpected results during a query or annotation process.