Expressing "ever since" with "yilai"

\r\nThere 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.\r\n== Structure with 以来 ==\r\n=== Basic form ===\r\nTo 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). \r\nThis grammar patter is usually used to start a statement.\r\n

\r\nTime or Event + 以来\r\n

\r\n==== Examples ====\r\n

\r\n*上大学以来 ，我 一直 没逃过课。Since I was in college, I haven't skip a class.

• 到 上海 以来 ，他 的 汉语 水平 提高 了。Ever since he came to Shanghai, his Chinese has been improving.
• 住院 以来 ，常常有朋友来医院看望她 。Ever since she was in hospital, her friends have constantly come and visited her.\r\n

\r\n=== Form with 自, 从 or 自从 ===\r\nWhen 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.\r\n

\r\n自/从/自从 + Time or Event + 以来\r\n

\r\n==== Examples ====\r\n

\r\n* 自从 我 拿到 驾照 以来 已经 有 五 年 了。I've had my license for five years.

• 自从 去年 夏天以来，他 一直 没有 回过家 。He hasn't returned home since last summer.
• 自从退学以来，他一直在帮父母做农活。Since he left school,he's been helping her parents do farm work.
• 自从 1979 年 改革开放 以来，中国人 的 生活水平 得到 了 提高。Ever since the 1979 reform, the Chinese people's level of living has gone up.\r\n

\r\n== Structure with 来 ==\r\nUsing 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).\r\nThis form cannot be used with 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words).\r\n

\r\nTime interval + 来\r\n

\r\n==== Examples ====\r\n

\r\n* 三 个 月来，我们 去 了 很 多地方 旅游。Since three months ago, we've traveled to a lot of places.

五 年 来，物价 一直 上涨。Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.

我 的 同学 几 天 来 一直 没有 上课。My classmate hasn't come to class for a few days now.\r\n

\r\n==See also==

Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"

"Ever since" with "zicong"\r\n== Sources and further reading ==\r\n=== Books ===\r\n* 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\r\n