After a specific time with "yihou"

Just as 以前 (yǐqián) can be used to talk events before a specific time, 以后(yǐhòu) can be used to describe actions that happened after a specific time.

Structure

This grammar structure is similar to the English "after such-and-such, something happens". It's quite simple, all you have to do is put the "after" after the time words or time phrase.

Time/Time phrase + 以后， Subject + Verb + Object

The time can be a specific time or date, or an action or event.

Examples

• 十 点 以后 ， 我 不 在 家 。 Shí diǎn yǐhòu, wǒ bù zài jiā. After ten o'clock, I am not be at home.
• 十 月 八 号 以后 ， 我 在 北京 。 Shí yuè bā hào yǐhòu, wǒ zài Běijīng. After October 8th, I am in Beijing.
• 认识 那 个 女孩 以后 ， 我们 一起 去 了 咖啡店 。 Rènshi nà gè nǚhái yǐhòu, wǒmen yīqǐ qù le kāfēidiàn. After knowing that girl, we went together to the coffee shop.
• 下班 以后 ， 我们 一起 去 喝 酒 吧? Xiàbān yǐhòu , wǒmen yīqǐ qù hējiǔ ba?After work, let's go together to have a drink?
• 喝 酒 以后 ， 我 很 高兴 。 Hē jiǔ yǐhòu, wǒ hěn gāoxìng. After drinking, I am really happy.
• 工作 以后 ， 她 认识 了 她 的 老公 。 Gōngzuò yǐhòu, tā rènshi le tā de lǎogōng. After working, she met her husband.
• 这 件 事 ， 我 三 天 以后 告诉 你 。 Zhè jiàn shì, wǒ sān tiān yǐhòu gàosu nǐ. This thing, I will tell you after three days.
• 你 到 家 以后 会 看 到 我 的 邮件 。 Nǐ dào jiā yǐhòu huì kān dào wǒ de yóujiàn. After you arrive home you will see my e-mail.
• 我 一 个 月 以后 开始 上班 。 Wǒ yī gè yuè yǐhòu kāishǐ shàngbān. I will start working after one month.
• 我 认识 他 以后 知道 了 很 多 事 。 Wǒ rènshi tā yǐhòu zhīdao le hěn duō shì. After I met him, I found out about a lot of things.

See also

• Before a specific time
• In the future in general
• At the time when
• Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"

Sources and further reading

• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (p. 261) →buy