Difference between revisions of "Comparing "yihou" and "zhihou""

 
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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
If you are trying to explain what happened '''after''' a certain event, you might want to use "以后" (yǐhòu) or "之后" (zhīhòu). After all, they do both mean "after," right? Well, it turns out that there are a few tiny differences in usage.
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Both "以后" (yǐhòu) or "之后" (zhīhòu) mean "after," but there are a few tiny differences in usage.
  
== Similarity ==
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== Similarities between 以后 and 之后 ==
  
Both indicates another event happened ''after'' a specific time. In this case, these two words can share the same structure.
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Both can indicate another event happened ''after'' a ''specific time''.
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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</div>
 
</div>
  
In situations something happens after something else, you can use 以后. The stipulation with this is that "after ''WHAT''" needs to be explicitly stated. That is, there has to be a "specified time" for 以后 to modify. Otherwise 以后 won't work in those sentences.
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In situations something happens after ''something else'', you can use 以后. The stipulation with this is that "after ''WHAT''" needs to be explicitly stated. That is, there has to be a "specified time" for 以后 to modify. Otherwise 以后 won't work in those sentences.
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
* 下 过 雨 <em>以后</em> 空气 会 好 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Xià guo yǔ <em>yǐhòu</em> kōngqì huì hǎo hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">After it rains, the air will be a lot better.</span>
 
* 下 过 雨 <em>以后</em> 空气 会 好 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Xià guo yǔ <em>yǐhòu</em> kōngqì huì hǎo hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">After it rains, the air will be a lot better.</span>
* 结婚 <em>之后</em> 他们 有 了 两 个 宝宝 。 <span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>zhīhòu</em> tāmen yǒu le liǎng gè bǎobǎo.</span><span class="trans">After getting married, they had two babies.</span>
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* 结婚 <em>之后</em> 他们 有 了 两 个 宝宝 。 <span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>zhīhòu</em> tāmen yǒu le liǎng gè bǎobao.</span><span class="trans">After getting married, they had two babies.</span>
 
* 等 我 涨 工资 <em>以后</em> 请 你 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Děng wǒ zhǎng gōngzī <em> yǐhòu</em> qǐng nǐ chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">After I get a raise, I will treat take you out to eat.</span>
 
* 等 我 涨 工资 <em>以后</em> 请 你 吃饭 。 <span class="pinyin">Děng wǒ zhǎng gōngzī <em> yǐhòu</em> qǐng nǐ chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">After I get a raise, I will treat take you out to eat.</span>
 
* 听到 这 个 消息 <em>之后</em> ,我 高兴 得 一 晚上 没 睡 。 <span class="pinyin">Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi <em>zhīhòu</em>, wǒ gāoxìng de yī wǎnshang méi shuì.</span><span class="trans">After I heard this news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep the whole night.</span>
 
* 听到 这 个 消息 <em>之后</em> ,我 高兴 得 一 晚上 没 睡 。 <span class="pinyin">Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi <em>zhīhòu</em>, wǒ gāoxìng de yī wǎnshang méi shuì.</span><span class="trans">After I heard this news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep the whole night.</span>
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Differences ==
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== Differences between 以后 and 之后 ==
  
The key to understanding 以后 here is that if it doesn't come ''immediately after'' something else, then it's being used by itself. And when 以后 is used by itself, it doesn't mean [[After a specific time|"after;"]] it means [[In the future in general|"in the future."]]
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The key to understanding 以后 here is that if it doesn't come ''immediately after'' something else, then it's being used ''by itself''. And when 以后 is used by itself, it doesn't mean [[After a specific time|"after;"]] it means [[In the future in general|"in the future."]]
  
=== 以后 ===
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=== 以后 by Itself Means "In the Future" ===
  
 
==== Structure ====  
 
==== Structure ====  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
==== Examples ====  
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==== Examples ====  
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
=== 之后 ===
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=== 之后 by Itself Means "After that" ===
  
Compared to 以后, 之后 is a little more flexible. Not only can it be used just like 以后, [[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"|modifying the time]], but it can also appear all on its own, meaning something along the lines of "after that." While 以后 must come after a specific time to mean "after," 之后 can stand by itself.
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Compared to 以后, 之后 is a little more flexible. Not only can it be used just like 以后, [[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"|modifying the time]], but it can also appear independently, meaning something along the lines of "after that." While 以后 must come after a specific time to mean "after," it cannot can stand by itself like this.
  
 
==== Structure ====  
 
==== Structure ====  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Event 1 ,之后 + Event 2
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(Event 1 ,) 之后 + Event 2
</div>
 
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
之后 + Event 2
 
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
== Common Mistakes ==
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== Common Mistakes with 以后 and 之后 ==
  
==== Examples ====
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In the following sentences, 以后 is not grammatical when it's not directly coupled with a time or event telling you ''after what''. 之后 can be used here to mean "after that."
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
 
<ul>
 
<ul>
<li class="x">我 六 点 下班 。 <em>以后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="expl">Since there is nothing that "以后" modifies, this sentence doesn't work.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān. <em> Yǐhòu</em>, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.</span></li>
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<li class="x">我 六 点 下班 。 <em>以后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān. <em> Yǐhòu</em>, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.</span></li>
<li class="o">我 六 点 下班 。 <em>之后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="expl">"之后" works in this sentence.</span><span class="pinyin">Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān. <em>Zhīhòu</em>, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I will get off work at six o'clock. After that, I will meet a friend for dinner.</span></li>
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<li class="o">我 六 点 下班 。 <em>之后</em>,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān. <em>Zhīhòu</em>, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.</span><span class="trans">I will get off work at six o'clock. After that, I will meet a friend for dinner.</span></li>
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</ul>
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<ul>
 
<li class="o">昨天 <strong>我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭</strong> <em>以后</em> 去 打 篮球 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <strong>wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em> qù dǎ lánqiú le.</span></li>
 
<li class="o">昨天 <strong>我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭</strong> <em>以后</em> 去 打 篮球 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <strong>wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em> qù dǎ lánqiú le.</span></li>
<li class="o">昨天 <strong>我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭</strong> <em>之后</em> 去 打 篮球 了 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <strong>wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn</strong> <em>Zhīhòu</em> qù dǎ lánqiú le.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday after finishing eating with my friends, we played basketball.</span></li>
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<li class="o">昨天 <strong>我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭</strong> <em>之后</em> 去 打 篮球 了 。<span class="expl">When a time is specified, both are fine.</span><span class="pinyin">Zuótiān <strong>wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn</strong> <em>Zhīhòu</em> qù dǎ lánqiú le.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday after finishing eating with my friends, we played basketball.</span></li>
<li class="x">昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了 。 <em>以后</em>,我们 去 了 宠物店 。<span class="expl">Again, since there is nothing for "以后" to modify, it's a bad sentence.</span><span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le. <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒmen qù le chǒngwù diàn.</span></li>
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</ul>
<li class="o">昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了 。 <em>之后</em>,我们 去 了 宠物店 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le, <em>zhīhòu</em>, wǒmen qù le chǒngwù diàn.</span><span class="expl">"之后" works in this sentence.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday I ate dinner with a friend, and afterward we went to a pet shop.</span></li>
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<ul>
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<li class="x">昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了 。 <em>以后</em>,我们 去 了 宠物店 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le. <em>Yǐhòu</em>, wǒmen qù le chǒngwù diàn.</span></li>
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<li class="o">昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了 。 <em>之后</em>,我们 去 了 宠物店 。<span class="pinyin">Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le. <em>Zhīhòu</em>, wǒmen qù le chǒngwù diàn.</span><span class="trans">Yesterday I ate dinner with a friend. Afterward, we went to a pet shop.</span></li>
 
</ul>
 
</ul>
 
</div>
 
</div>
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*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
 
*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
 
*[[Comparing "yihou" and "houlai"]]
 
*[[Comparing "yihou" and "houlai"]]
 
== Sources and Further Reading ==
 
 
=== Books ===
 
  
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]
 
[[Category:grammar comparison]]

Latest revision as of 02:17, 8 March 2021

Both "以后" (yǐhòu) or "之后" (zhīhòu) mean "after," but there are a few tiny differences in usage.

Similarities between 以后 and 之后

Both can indicate another event happened after a specific time.

Structure

Subj. + Specified Time + 以后/之后 + Verb

In situations something happens after something else, you can use 以后. The stipulation with this is that "after WHAT" needs to be explicitly stated. That is, there has to be a "specified time" for 以后 to modify. Otherwise 以后 won't work in those sentences.

Examples

以后 and 之后 may be freely interchanged in any of the below sentences.

  • 下 过 雨 以后 空气 会 好 很 多 。Xià guo yǔ yǐhòu kōngqì huì hǎo hěn duō.After it rains, the air will be a lot better.
  • 结婚 之后 他们 有 了 两 个 宝宝 。 Jiéhūn zhīhòu tāmen yǒu le liǎng gè bǎobao.After getting married, they had two babies.
  • 等 我 涨 工资 以后 请 你 吃饭 。 Děng wǒ zhǎng gōngzī yǐhòu qǐng nǐ chīfàn.After I get a raise, I will treat take you out to eat.
  • 听到 这 个 消息 之后 ,我 高兴 得 一 晚上 没 睡 。 Tīngdào zhège xiāoxi zhīhòu, wǒ gāoxìng de yī wǎnshang méi shuì.After I heard this news, I was so happy I couldn't sleep the whole night.

Differences between 以后 and 之后

The key to understanding 以后 here is that if it doesn't come immediately after something else, then it's being used by itself. And when 以后 is used by itself, it doesn't mean "after;" it means "in the future."

以后 by Itself Means "In the Future"

Structure

以后 ,⋯⋯

Examples

  • 以后 再 也 不 来 这里 吃饭 了 , 又 贵 又 难吃 。 Yǐhòu zài yě bù lái zhèlǐ chīfàn le, yòu guì yòu nánchī.In the future I will never come to this place to eat again. It's expensive and the food is terrible.
  • 以后 我 可能 会 去 国外 上 大学 。 Yǐhòu wǒ kěnéng huì qù guówài shàng dàxué.In the future I might go to college abroad.
  • 以后 的 事情 以后 再 说 吧 。 Yǐhòu de shìqing yǐhòu zài shuō bā.We'll talk about future issues in the future.

之后 by Itself Means "After that"

Compared to 以后, 之后 is a little more flexible. Not only can it be used just like 以后, modifying the time, but it can also appear independently, meaning something along the lines of "after that." While 以后 must come after a specific time to mean "after," it cannot can stand by itself like this.

Structure

(Event 1 ,) 之后 + Event 2

Examples

  • 我 要 先 回家 把 东西 放 下 ,之后 去 咖啡店 找 你 。 Wǒ yào xiān huí jiā bǎ dōngxi fàng xià, zhīhòu qù kāfēidiàn zhǎo nǐ.I'm going to go home and drop my stuff off first, after that go to the cafe to look for you.
  • 去年 夏天 他 来 过 我 家 ,之后 再 也 没 见 过 他 。 Qùnián xiàtiān tā lái guò wǒ jiā, zhīhòu zài yě méi jiàn guo tā.Last summer, he came to my house. After that, I haven't seen him.

Common Mistakes with 以后 and 之后

In the following sentences, 以后 is not grammatical when it's not directly coupled with a time or event telling you after what. 之后 can be used here to mean "after that."

  • 我 六 点 下班 。 以后,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān. Yǐhòu, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.
  • 我 六 点 下班 。 之后,我 去 跟 朋友 吃饭。Wǒ liù diǎn xiàbān. Zhīhòu, wǒ qù gēn péngyou chīfàn.I will get off work at six o'clock. After that, I will meet a friend for dinner.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭 以后 去 打 篮球 了 。Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn yǐhòu qù dǎ lánqiú le.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 吃 完 饭 之后 去 打 篮球 了 。When a time is specified, both are fine.Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou chī wán fàn Zhīhòu qù dǎ lánqiú le.Yesterday after finishing eating with my friends, we played basketball.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了 。 以后,我们 去 了 宠物店 。Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le. Yǐhòu, wǒmen qù le chǒngwù diàn.
  • 昨天 我 跟 朋友 去 吃饭 了 。 之后,我们 去 了 宠物店 。Zuótiān wǒ gēn péngyou qù chīfàn le. Zhīhòu, wǒmen qù le chǒngwù diàn.Yesterday I ate dinner with a friend. Afterward, we went to a pet shop.

See Also

HSK5