Comparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai"

While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "after," they have distinct uses.

以后 is used for the future in general

以后 is used when talking about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future.

Structure

以后， + Subject + Verb + Object

Examples

• 以后，我 打算 去 中国 找 工作 。
Later, I plan to go to China to look for work.
• 他 以后 不 想 住 在 日本 。
He doesn't want to live in Japan later.
• 我 后来 不 喝 葡萄酒 。
• 后来 ， 我 要 回家 睡觉 。

以后 is used for things occurring after a specific time

以后 can be used to describe actions or events that occur after a specific time (and the time must be given).

Structure

Time + 以后， Subject + Verb + Object

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

Examples

• 两 个 星期 以后，我 要 回 美国 。
After two weeks, I'm going to return to America.
• 一 个 小时 以后， 我们 可能 会 出去 吃饭 。
After an hour, we'll probably go out to eat.
• 十年 以后，你 会 变成 什么 样子？
After ten years, what will have changed?
• 从 那 以后，我 再 也 没 见 过 她。
After that time, I never saw him again.
• 两 个 星期 以后 ，我们 回 美国 了。
After two weeks, we came back to America.
• 两 个 星期 后来 ，我们 回 美国 了。
• 两年 后来，我 可以 喝酒。
• 六点 后来，我下班。

后来 is used for sequencing past events

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

Strucure

Past Event #1 + 后来 + Past Event #2

Examples

• 去年 我们 分手 了，后来 再 也 没 见 过 她。
We broke up last year, after that, I never saw her again.
• 我 六点 下班，后来 去 吃饭。
I got off work at 6 o'clock. Then I went to eat.
• 我们 在 一起 两 个 月， 两 个 月以后 就 分手了。
We were together for two months. After two months, we broke up.
• 我们 在 一起 两 个 月， 后来 就 分手了。
We were together for two months, then we broke up.
• 昨天 晚上 我 打电话 给 我 妈妈 以后 做饭。
• 我们 在 一起 两 个 月， 以后 就 分手了。

See Also

• In the future in general
• Sequencing past events with "houlai"
• After a specific time
• Comparing "houlai" and "ranhou"

Sources and further reading

Books

• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (以后 vs 后来 p.5) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (p. 614) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 268) →buy
• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 26 - 27) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 294) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 267) →buy