Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yihou" "ranhou" "houlai""

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== Difference Between 以后 and 后来 ==
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== 以后 and 后来 ==
  
 
=== 以后 as "In the Future" ===
 
=== 以后 as "In the Future" ===

Revision as of 10:07, 6 March 2018

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 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.

  • 我们 先 复习 一下 ,然后 上 新 课 。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 。We'll meet downstairs and then we go together.
  • 中国 是 人口 最多 的 发展中 国家 ,然后 是 印度 。China is the biggest developing country and then it's India.
  • 我 想 先 找 工作 ,以后 找 房子 。

以后 and 后来

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:

  • 以后 想 开 公司 。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:

  • 老板 两 个 星期 以后 去 美国 。Lǎobǎn liǎng gè xīngqī yǐhòu qù Měiguó.The boss is going to the USA in two weeks.
  • 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 就 出国 了 。Bìyè yǐhòu tā jiù 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.

[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
  • 以后 不想再见到你 !


  • 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

Sources and further reading

Books

Dictionaries