Difference between revisions of "Expressing "ever since" with "yilai""

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== Used with 以来 ==
 
== Used with 以来 ==
  
=== Basic Pattern ===
+
To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put 以来 after a specific event or time. It expresses what has happened since the stated event until the time that the speaker talks (in other words, referring to a certain time period).
  
To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put 以来 after a specific event or time. It expresses what has happened since the stated event until the time that the speaker talks (in other words, referring to a certain time period).
+
=== Structure ===
  
==== Structure ====
+
This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
Time / Event + 以来 ,⋯⋯
 
Time / Event + 以来 ,⋯⋯
 
</div>
 
</div>
 
This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.
 
 
==== Examples ====
 
 
<div class="liju">
 
 
*毕业 <em>以来</em> ,他 一直 在 教 英语 。<span class="pinyin">Bìyè <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí zài jiāo Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">Since I was in college, I haven't skipped a class.</span>
 
*结婚 <em>以来</em> ,我们 从来 没 吵 过 架 。<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒmen cónglái méi chǎo guo jià.</span><span class="trans">We've never had a fight since we got married.</span>
 
*改革 开放 <em>以来</em> ,中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。<span class="pinyin">Gǎigé kāifàng <em>yǐlái</em>, Zhōngguó shèhuì fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">
 
Tremendous changes have been taken place in China since the reform and opening up.</span>
 
 
</div>
 
 
=== Advanced 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.
 
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.
 
==== Structure ====
 
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*<em>自从</em> 他 爸爸 去世 <em>以来</em>,他 一直 没 回 过 家 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> 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>
+
*毕业 <em>以来</em> ,他 一直 在 教 英语 。<span class="pinyin">Bìyè <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí zài jiāo Yīngyǔ.</span><span class="trans">Since I was in college, I haven't skipped a class.</span>
 +
*结婚 <em>以来</em> ,我们 从来 没 吵 过 架 。<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒmen cónglái méi chǎo guo jià.</span><span class="trans">We've never had a fight since we got married.</span>
 +
*改革 开放 <em>以来</em> ,中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。<span class="pinyin">Gǎigé kāifàng <em>yǐlái</em>, Zhōngguó shèhuì fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">
 +
Tremendous changes have been taken place in China since the reform and opening up.</span>
 +
*<em>自从</em> 他 爸爸 去世 <em>以来</em> ,他 一直 没 回 过 家 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> 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>
 
*<em>自从</em> 离婚 <em>以来</em>,她 一直 单身 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> líhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí dānshēn.</span><span class="trans">She's been single since she got divorced.</span>
 
*<em>自从</em> 离婚 <em>以来</em>,她 一直 单身 。<span class="pinyin"><em>Zìcóng</em> líhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, tā yīzhí dānshēn.</span><span class="trans">She's been single since she got divorced.</span>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*实习 几 个 月<em>来</em> ,我 学到 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Shíxí jǐ gè yuè <em>lái</em>, wǒ? ? Le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">I've learnt a lot from my internship during the past few months.</span>
 
 
*几 十 年 <em>来</em> ,这个 城市 几乎 没 什么 变化 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐ shí nián <em>lái</em>, zhège chéngshì jīhū méi shénme biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">This city has barely changed for the past few decades.</span>
 
*几 十 年 <em>来</em> ,这个 城市 几乎 没 什么 变化 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐ shí nián <em>lái</em>, zhège chéngshì jīhū méi shénme biànhuà.</span><span class="trans">This city has barely changed for the past few decades.</span>
 
*五 年 <em>来</em>,物价 一直 在 涨 。<span class="pinyin">Wǔ nián <em>lái</em>, wùjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.</span><span class="trans">Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.</span>
 
*五 年 <em>来</em>,物价 一直 在 涨 。<span class="pinyin">Wǔ nián <em>lái</em>, wùjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.</span><span class="trans">Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.</span>
 +
*<em>来</em> ,。<span class="trans"> .</span>
 +
*几 年 <em>来</em> ,我们 公司 的 收入 一直 在 增加 。<span class="pinyin">Jǐ nián <em>lái</em>, wǒmen gōngsī de shōurù yīzhí zài zēngjiā.</span><span class="trans">Out company's income has been increasing during the past few years.</span>
 +
*实习 几 个 月<em>来</em> ,我 学到 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Shíxí jǐ gè yuè <em>lái</em>, wǒ? ? Le hěn duō.</span><span class="pinyin">Shíxí jǐ gè yuè <em>lái</em>, wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">I've learnt a lot from my internship during the past few months.</span>
 +
*出国 几 个 月 <em>来</em> ,他 一点 也 不 想 家 。<span class="pinyin">Chūguó jǐ gè yuè <em>lái</em>, tā yīdiǎn yě bù xiǎng jiā.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't missed home at all since he went abroad a few month ago.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
==See also==
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== See also ==
 +
 
 
*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
 
*[[Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"]]
 
*[["Ever since" with "zicong"]]
 
*[["Ever since" with "zicong"]]

Revision as of 07:05, 6 November 2017

There are a few ways to express "ever since" in Chinese. In English, we would say something like "ever since I came to Shanghai, my Chinese has improved a lot." In this article, we will first take a look at using 以来 (yǐlái) to mean "ever since." We will also take a quick look at using "ever since" with 来 (lái), which is similar but used in a somewhat different way.

Used with 以来

To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put 以来 after a specific event or time. It expresses what has happened since the stated event until the time that the speaker talks (in other words, referring to a certain time period).

Structure

This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.

Time / Event + 以来 ,⋯⋯

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.

自 / 从 / 自从 + Time or Event + 以来

Examples

  • 毕业 以来 ,他 一直 在 教 英语 。Bìyè yǐlái, tā yīzhí zài jiāo Yīngyǔ.Since I was in college, I haven't skipped a class.
  • 结婚 以来 ,我们 从来 没 吵 过 架 。Jiéhūn yǐlái, wǒmen cónglái méi chǎo guo jià.We've never had a fight since we got married.
  • 改革 开放 以来 ,中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Gǎigé kāifàng yǐlái, Zhōngguó shèhuì fāshēng le jùdà de biànhuà.

Tremendous changes have been taken place in China since the reform and opening up.

  • 自从 他 爸爸 去世 以来 ,他 一直 没 回 过 家 。Zìcóng tā bàba qùshì yǐlái, tā yīzhí méi huí guo jiā.He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.
  • 自从 离婚 以来,她 一直 单身 。Zìcóng líhūn yǐlái, tā yīzhí dānshēn.She's been single since she got divorced.

Used with 来

Using 来 to mean "ever since" is basically the same as "以来," however, there is one key difference: you can only use 来 after a time interval. In other words, it needs to be used with a certain number of years, months, days, hours etc. In English this would be like saying "ever since three days ago, I've had a constant headache." It doesn't have to be a specific number either, it could be "a few" (几).

Structure

Time Interval + 来 ,⋯⋯

This form cannot be used with 自, 从 or 自从 (or other similar words).

Examples

  • 几 十 年 ,这个 城市 几乎 没 什么 变化 。Jǐ shí nián lái, zhège chéngshì jīhū méi shénme biànhuà.This city has barely changed for the past few decades.
  • 五 年 ,物价 一直 在 涨 。Wǔ nián lái, wùjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.
  • ,。 .
  • 几 年 ,我们 公司 的 收入 一直 在 增加 。Jǐ nián lái, wǒmen gōngsī de shōurù yīzhí zài zēngjiā.Out company's income has been increasing during the past few years.
  • 实习 几 个 月 ,我 学到 了 很 多 。Shíxí jǐ gè yuè lái, wǒ? ? Le hěn duō.Shíxí jǐ gè yuè lái, wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.I've learnt a lot from my internship during the past few months.
  • 出国 几 个 月 ,他 一点 也 不 想 家 。Chūguó jǐ gè yuè lái, tā yīdiǎn yě bù xiǎng jiā.He hasn't missed home at all since he went abroad a few month ago.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books