Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "yilai""
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*几 十 年 <em>来</em> ,这个 城市 几乎 没 什么 变化 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐ shí nián <em>lái</em>, zhège chéngshì jīhū méi shénme biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">This city has barely changed for the past few decades.</span> | *几 十 年 <em>来</em> ,这个 城市 几乎 没 什么 变化 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐ shí nián <em>lái</em>, zhège chéngshì jīhū méi shénme biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">This city has barely changed for the past few decades.</span> | ||
− | * | + | *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">Ever since ten years ago, housing price has been going up.</span> |
*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">Out company's income has been increasing during the past few years.</span> | *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">Out company's income has been increasing during the past few years.</span> | ||
*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 learnt a lot from my internship during the past few months.</span> | *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 learnt a lot from my internship during the past few months.</span> |
Revision as of 07:21, 6 November 2017
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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.
Contents
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 time period).
Structure
This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.
Time / Event + 以来 ,⋯⋯
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.
自 / 从 / 自从 + Time or Event + 以来
Examples
- 今年 八月 以来 ,这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。It hasn't rained since August.
- 结婚 以来 ,我们 从来 没 吵 过 架 。We've never had a fight since we got married.
- 从 他 爸爸 去世 以来 ,他 一直 没 回 过 家 。He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.
- 我 老师 说 ,自从 毕业 以来,她 就 一直 在 大学 教 汉语 。My teacher said, she has been teaching Chinese since she graduated.
- 自 改革 开放 以来 ,中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Tremendous changes have been taken place in China since the reform and opening up.
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 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
- 几 十 年 来 ,这个 城市 几乎 没 什么 变化 。This city has barely changed for the past few decades.
- 十 年 来,房价 一直 在 涨 。Ever since ten years ago, housing price has been going up.
- 几 年 来 ,我们 公司 的 收入 一直 在 增加 。Out company's income has been increasing during the past few years.
- 实习 几 个 月来 ,我 学到 了 很 多 。I've learnt a lot from my internship during the past few months.
- 出国 几 个 月 来 ,他 一点 也 不 想 家 。He hasn't missed home at all since he went abroad a few month ago.
See also
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