Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai""
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Grammar Box}} | {{Grammar Box}} | ||
| − | 以后 (yǐhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu) can both mean "and then," but their usage is fairly different. | + | 以后 (yǐhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu) can both mean "and then," but their usage is fairly different. While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "later," they have distinct uses. |
| − | |||
| − | While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "later," they have distinct uses. | ||
== Usage of 以后 == | == Usage of 以后 == | ||
| Line 18: | Line 16: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | ||
| + | |||
| + | 然后 is always used in a sequence. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first"). | ||
<div class="liju"> | <div class="liju"> | ||
| − | *他 先 说 了 一 个 好 消息 ， <em>然后</em> 又 说 了 一 个 坏 消息 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā xiān shuō le yī gè hǎo xiāoxi, <em>ránhòu</em> yòu shuō le yī gè huài xiāoxi.</span><span class="trans">First he told the good news, then he told the bad news.</span> | + | *他 先 说 了 一 个 好 消息 ， <em>然后</em> 又 说 了 一 个 坏 消息 。<span class="pinyin">Tā xiān shuō le yī gè hǎo xiāoxi, <em>ránhòu</em> yòu shuō le yī gè huài xiāoxi.</span><span class="trans">First he told the good news, then he told the bad news.</span> |
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == | + | === Referring to "After A Specific Time Or Event" === |
Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence). | Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence). | ||
| Line 34: | Line 34: | ||
*老板 两 个 星期 <em>以后</em> 去 美国 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn liǎng gè xīngqī <em>yǐhòu</em> qù Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">The boss is going to the USA in two weeks.</span> | *老板 两 个 星期 <em>以后</em> 去 美国 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn liǎng gè xīngqī <em>yǐhòu</em> qù Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">The boss is going to the USA in two weeks.</span> | ||
*我 一 个 小时 <em>以后</em> 回来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yī gè xiǎoshí <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans"> will come back in an hour.</span> | *我 一 个 小时 <em>以后</em> 回来 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yī gè xiǎoshí <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans"> will come back in an hour.</span> | ||
| + | *毕业 <em>以后</em> 他 就 出国 了 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yī gè xiǎoshí <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans"> will come back in an hour.</span> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | == | + | == Usage of 后来 == |
后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "afterward." | 后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "afterward." | ||
| Line 44: | Line 45: | ||
<div class="jiegou"> | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| − | Past Event 1 ，后来 + Past Event 2 | + | [Past Event 1] ，后来 + [Past Event 2] |
</div> | </div> | ||
Revision as of 09:22, 6 March 2018
-
Level
-
Similar to
-
Used for
-
Keywords
以后 (yǐhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu) can both mean "and then," but their usage is fairly different. While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "later," they have distinct uses.
Contents
Usage of 以后
Referring to "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.
A few examples:
- 我 以后 想 开 公司 。I want to start up my own business in the future.
- 请 你 以后 别 来 了 。Please stop coming in the future.
然后 is always used in a sequence. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first").
- 他 先 说 了 一 个 好 消息 ， 然后 又 说 了 一 个 坏 消息 。First he told the good news, then he told the bad news.
Referring to "After A Specific Time Or Event"
Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence).
Examples
- 老板 两 个 星期 以后 去 美国 。The boss is going to the USA in two weeks.
- 我 一 个 小时 以后 回来 。 will come back in an hour.
- 毕业 以后 他 就 出国 了 。 will come back in an hour.
Usage of 后来
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 。 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 。 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
