Comparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai"

以后 (yǐhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu) can both mean "and then," but their usage is fairly different. 然后 is always used in a sequence. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first").

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

Used as "After" or "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.

Examples

• 我 以后 想 开 公司 。 Wǒ yǐhòu xiǎng kāi gōngsī.I want to start up my own business in the future.
• 他 以后 会 搬到 中国 吗 ？Tā yǐhòu huì bān dào Zhōngguó ma?Is he going to move to China?

以后 can also be used for events that occur after a specific time.

• 他 先 说 了 一 个 好 消息 ， 然后 又 说 了 一 个 坏 消息 。 Tā xiān shuō le yī gè hǎo xiāoxi, ránhòu yòu shuō le yī gè huài xiāoxi.First he told the good news, then he told the bad news.

Used for things occurring after a specific time

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 。Liǎng gè xīngqī yǐhòu, wǒ yào huí Měiguó.After two weeks, I'm going to return to the USA.
• 老板 一 个 小时 以后 回来 。 Lǎobǎn yī gè xiǎoshí yǐhòu huílái.The boss will come back in an hour.

Used for the Past

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

Also note that 后来 is a time noun, and it can only be used on its own.

Past Event 1 ，后来 + Past Event 2

Examples

• 去年 我们 分手 了 ，后来 再 也 没 见 过 她 。 Qùnián wǒmen fēnshǒu le, hòulái zài yě méi jiàn guo tā.We broke up last year, after that, I never saw her again.
• 他 在 我们 公司 干 过 两年 ，后来 跳槽 了 。 Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī gàn gàn guo liǎng nián, hòulái tiàocáo le.He worked for our company for two years. And then he jumped ship.

Right or Wrong

Examples

• 后来 不想再见到你 ！
• 以后 不想再见到你 ！

• 我 想 先 买房子 ，以后 结婚 。
• 我 想 先 买房子 ，然后 结婚 。

• 我们 以后 分手了，到 现在 已经 一 年 了 。
• 我们 后来 分手了，到 现在 已经 一 年 了 。
• 我们 在 一起 两 个 月以后 分手了，到 现在 已经 一 年 了 。

Example Dialog

• A: 我 先 去 你 家，然后 我们 一起 去 见 她 ？First I'll go to your house, then we can go together to see her.
• B: 好的 。她 出国 以后 你们 见过面 吗 ？Sure. Have you seen each other since she went abroad?
• A: 见 过 一次 。后来 我 。She left the country two years ago. Since then, I haven't seen her.

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 (pp. 5) [ →buy]
• 对外汉语教学语法释疑201例 (pp. 7) [ →buy]
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 461) [ →buy]
• 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 614) [ →buy]
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 268) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 26 - 27) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (pp. 294) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 267) Anything Goes (无所不谈) →buy

Dictionaries

• 现代汉语词典（第5版） (pp. 570) 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 →buy