Comparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai"

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.

然后 as "and then"

然后 is a conjunction, which is always used in a sequence. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first"). 以后 or 后来 can't be used this way.

Right Examples

• 我们 先 复习 一下 ，然后 上 新 课 。Wǒmen xiān fùxí yīxià, ránhòu shàng xīn kè.We do some reviewing first and the started the new lesson.
• 我们 一会儿 在 楼下 见 ，然后 一起 走 。Wǒmen yīhuìr zài lóu xià jiàn, ránhòu yīqǐ zǒu.We'll meet downstairs and then we go together.
• 宝宝 醒了 ，哭 了 一会儿 ，然后 又 睡着 了 。Bǎobao xǐng le, kū le yīhuìr, ránhòu yòu shuìzháo le.The baby woke up. He cried for a little while and then fell asleep again.
• 中国 是 人口 最多 的 发展中 国家 ，然后 是 印度 。Zhōngguó shì rénkǒu zuì duō de fāzhǎn zhōng guójiā, ránhòu shì Yìndù.China is the biggest developing country and then it's India.

Wrong Examples

• 我 打算 先 住 朋友家 ，以后 找 房子 。Wǒ dǎsuàn xiān zhù péngyou jiā, yǐhòu zhǎo fángzi.My plan is to stay at my friend's friend, and then look for a job a place to live.
• 我们 下周 去 北京 出差 ，以后 去 欧洲 度假 。Wǒmen xiàzhōu qù Běijīng chūchāi, yǐhòu qù Ōuzhōu dùjià.We're going to Beijing on a business trip and then we go to Europe on vacation.

Usage of 以后

以后 as "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 。Wǒ yǐhòu xiǎng kāi gōngsī.I want to start up my own business in the future.
• 请 你 以后 别 来 了 。Qǐng nǐ yǐhòu bié lái le.Please stop coming in the future.

以后 as "After A Specific Time"

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

A few examples:

• 我 一 个 小时 以后 回来 。Wǒ yī gè xiǎoshí yǐhòu huílái. will come back in an hour.
• 毕业 以后 他 出国 了 。Bìyè yǐhòu tā chūguó le.He went abroad after he graduated.

后来 as "Afterwards"

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.

Structure

[Past Event 1] ，后来 + [Past Event 2]

Examples

• 开始 大家 都 不 同意 ，后来 大家 都 同意 了 。Kāishǐ dàjiā dōu bù tóngyì, hòulái dàjiā dōu tóngyì 了 .Everyone disagreed in the beginning, but they all agreed later.
• 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.

• 他们 大学 的时候 在一起 过 ，以后 分手了 。They were together in college. They broke up later on.

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 再也 没见过 。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