Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "zicong""
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When 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 to make it into a "sandwich pattern." | When 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 to make it into a "sandwich pattern." | ||
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== Structure with "zicong" == | == Structure with "zicong" == | ||
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<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li class="o"> <em>从</em> 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。<span class="trans">Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.</span> </li> | + | <li class="o"><em>从</em> 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> míngtiān kāishǐ, wǒ yào rènzhēn kàn shū.</span></li> |
| − | <li class="x"> <em>自从</em> | + | <li class="x"><em>自从</em> 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。<span class="pinyin"></em>Zìcóng</em> míngtiān kāishǐ, wǒ yào rènzhēn kàn shū.</span><span class="trans">Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.</span></li> |
| + | </ul> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Note that 从 can be used to denote [["From… To…" with "cong… dao…"|starting points in place <em>and</em> time]], whereas 自从 can ''only'' be used to express starting points in <em>time</em>. | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | <ul> | ||
| + | <li class="o"><em>从</em> 我 家 到 机场 的 距离 是 一 百 公里 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Cóng</em> wǒ jiā dào jīchǎng de jùlí shì yī bǎi gōnglǐ.</span></li> | ||
| + | <li class="x"><em>自从</em> 我 家 到 机场 的 距离 是 一 百 公里 。<span class="pinyin"></em>Zìcóng</em> wǒ jiā dào jīchǎng de jùlí shì yī bǎi gōnglǐ.</span><span class="trans">From my home to the airport, the distance is 100 kilometers.</span> </li> | ||
</ul> | </ul> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | == Structure with "zicong" Alternatives and "yilai" == | ||
| + | |||
| + | <div class="jiegou"> | ||
| + | 自 / 从 / 自从 + Time / Event + 以来 | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | + | == Examples == | |
| + | |||
| + | <div class="liju"> | ||
| + | |||
| + | *<strong>从</strong> 他 爸爸 去世 <em>以来</em> ，他 一直 没 回 过 家 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> tā bàba qùshì <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí méi huí guo jiā.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.</span> | ||
| + | *<strong>从</strong> 毕业 <em>以来</em>，她 一直 在 教 汉语 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> bìyè <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí zài jiāo Hànyǔ.</span><span class="trans">She has been teaching Chinese since she graduated.</span> | ||
| + | *<strong>自</strong> 改革 开放 <em>以来</em> ，中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Zì</strong> gǎigé kāifàng <em>yǐlái</em>, Zhōngguó shèhuì fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">Tremendous changes have been taking place in China since the reform and opening up to the outside world.</span> | ||
| + | *<strong>自从</strong> 妹妹 出生 <em>以来</em> ，妈妈 就 更 忙 了 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Zìcóng</strong> mèimei chūshēng <em>yǐlái</em>, māma jiù gèng máng le.</span><span class="trans">Ever since my little sister was born, mom has been busier than ever.</span> | ||
| + | |||
| + | </div> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
Revision as of 08:53, 18 November 2020
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Keywords
自从 means "ever since" in English, and is used to express the starting point of an action in the past. It can be followed by phrases using the markers 起 and 以后.
When 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 to make it into a "sandwich pattern."
Contents
Structure with "zicong"
自从 + [Starting Point]
Examples
- 自从 来 到 湖南，我 越来越 能 吃 辣 了。Ever since arriving in Hunan, I've been more and more able to eat spicy food.
- 自从 金融 危机 爆发，就业 市场 越来越 不 景气 了 。Ever since the economic crisis, the job market has gotten worse and worse.
- 自从 他 跟 我 分手 后，他 就 没有 联系 过 我。Ever since he broke up with me, he hasn't contacted me.
- 自从 用 手机 付款 后，我 很 少 带 现金 出门 。Ever since I've started using my phone to pay for stuff, I rarely take cash when I go out.
- 自从 吵 完 架，两 个 人 再 也 没有 说 过 话。Since their fight, the two of them haven't spoken at all.
In the above examples, 从 can be used interchangeably with 自从. The main difference is that 从 can also be used to state starting points in the future, a little like "from" in English. 自从 cannot be used in this way.
- 从 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。
- 自从 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.
Note that 从 can be used to denote starting points in place and time, whereas 自从 can only be used to express starting points in time.
- 从 我 家 到 机场 的 距离 是 一 百 公里 。
- 自从 我 家 到 机场 的 距离 是 一 百 公里 。From my home to the airport, the distance is 100 kilometers.
Structure with "zicong" Alternatives and "yilai"
自 / 从 / 自从 + Time / Event + 以来
Examples
- 从 他 爸爸 去世 以来 ，他 一直 没 回 过 家 。He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.
- 从 毕业 以来，她 一直 在 教 汉语 。She has been teaching Chinese since she graduated.
- 自 改革 开放 以来 ，中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Tremendous changes have been taking place in China since the reform and opening up to the outside world.
- 自从 妹妹 出生 以来 ，妈妈 就 更 忙 了 。Ever since my little sister was born, mom has been busier than ever.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
