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

 
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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.
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You can express "ever since" in Chinese using 以来 (yǐlái) after a time in the past. Just the word 来 (lái) can also play a similar role.
  
 
== Pattern with 以来 ==
 
== Pattern 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).  
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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 continuous time period leading up to the present).  
  
 
=== Structure ===
 
=== Structure ===
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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.
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Although we won't go into detail here, note that when using 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can [[Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"|add 自, 从, or 自从]] (or other similar words) before the time or event to make it into a "sandwich pattern."
 
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
自 / 从 / 自从 + Time / Event + 以来
 
</div>
 
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*今年 八月 <em>以来</em> ,这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnnián Bāyuè <em>yǐlái</em>, zhèlǐ yīzhí méi xià guo yǔ.</span><span class="trans">It hasn't rained since August.</span>
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*今年 八月 <em>以来</em> ,这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。<span class="pinyin">Jīnnián Bāyuè <em>yǐlái</em>, zhèlǐ yīzhí méi xià guo yǔ.</span><span class="trans">It hasn't rained since August of this year.</span>
*结婚 <em>以来</em> ,我们 没 吵 过 架 。<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒmen méi chǎo guo jià.</span><span class="trans">We've never had a fight since we got married.</span>
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*结婚 <em>以来</em> ,我们 没 吵 过 架 。<span class="pinyin">Jiéhūn <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒmen méi chǎo guo jià.</span><span class="trans">Since we got married we haven't had a fight.</span>
*<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>
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*上 大学 <em>以来</em> ,他 变 了 很 多 。<span class="pinyin">Shàng dàxué <em>yǐlái</em>, tā biàn le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">Since starting college, he's changed a lot.</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>
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*<strong>从</strong> 他 爸爸 去世 <em>以来</em> ,他 就 没有 回 过 家 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> tā bàba qùshì <em>yǐlái</em>, tā jiù méiyǒu huí guo jiā.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.</span>
*<strong></strong> 改革 开放 <em>以来</em> ,中国 社会 发生 巨大 的 变化 。<span class="pinyin"><strong></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>
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*<strong></strong> 我 学 汉语 <em>以来</em> ,我 认识 很多 中国 朋友 。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Cóng</strong> wǒ xué Hànyǔ <em>yǐlái</em>, wǒ rènshi le hěn duō Zhōngguó péngyou.</span><span class="trans">Since I started studying Chinese, I've made a lot of Chinese friends.</span>
  
 
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== Pattern with 来 ==
 
== Pattern 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).
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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 length of time, rather than a specific date. 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 ===
 
=== Structure ===
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
Time Interval + 来 ,⋯⋯  
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Time Period + 来 ,⋯⋯  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*十 年 <em>来</em>,房价 一直 在 涨 。<span class="pinyin">Shí nián <em>lái</em>, fángjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.</span><span class="trans">In the past decade, housing prices have been going up.</span>
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*十 年 <em>来</em>,房价 一直 在 涨 。<span class="pinyin">Shí nián <em>lái</em>, fángjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.</span><span class="trans">For the past decade, housing prices have been continuously going up.</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">Our company's income has been increasing over the past few years.</span>
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*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">Our company's income has been steadily increasing over 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 xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">I've learnt a lot from my internship during the last few months.</span>
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*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 xuédào le hěn duō.</span><span class="trans">I've learned a lot from my internship during the last few months.</span>
 
*出国 几 个 月 <em>来</em> ,她 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">She hasn't missed home at all since she went abroad a few month ago.</span>
 
*出国 几 个 月 <em>来</em> ,她 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">She hasn't missed home at all since she went abroad a few month ago.</span>
*离婚 这 几 年 <em>来</em> ,他 从 没 去 看 过 孩子 。<span class="pinyin">Líhūn zhè jǐ nián <em>lái</em>, tā cóng méi qù kàn guo háizi.</span><span class="trans">He hasn't visited his child since he got divorced a few years ago.</span>
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*离婚 这 几 年 <em>来</em> ,他 从 没 去 看 过 孩子 。<span class="pinyin">Líhūn zhè jǐ nián <em>lái</em>, tā cóng méi qù kàn guo háizi.</span><span class="trans">Since getting divorced these past few years, he's never visited his child.</span>
 
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*这 三 个 月 <em>来</em> ,我 每天 都 在 想 她。<span class="pinyin">Zhè sān ge yuè  <em>lái</em>, wǒ měitiān dōu zài xiǎng tā.</span><span class="trans">I've been missing her every day these past three months.</span>
 
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[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:B1 grammar points]]
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[[Category:Time]]
 
[[Category:Time]]
 
{{Similar|Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"}}
 
{{Similar|Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"}}

Latest revision as of 09:42, 12 April 2019

You can express "ever since" in Chinese using 以来 (yǐlái) after a time in the past. Just the word 来 (lái) can also play a similar role.

Pattern 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 continuous time period leading up to the present).

Structure

This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.

Time / Event + 以来 ,⋯⋯

Although we won't go into detail here, note that when using 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."

Examples

  • 今年 八月 以来 ,这里 一直 没 下 过 雨 。Jīnnián Bāyuè yǐlái, zhèlǐ yīzhí méi xià guo yǔ.It hasn't rained since August of this year.
  • 结婚 以来 ,我们 没 吵 过 架 。Jiéhūn yǐlái, wǒmen méi chǎo guo jià.Since we got married we haven't had a fight.
  • 上 大学 以来 ,他 变 了 很 多 。Shàng dàxué yǐlái, tā biàn le hěn duō.Since starting college, he's changed a lot.
  • 他 爸爸 去世 以来 ,他 就 没有 回 过 家 。Cóng tā bàba qùshì yǐlái, tā jiù méiyǒu huí guo jiā.He hasn't returned home since his father passed away.
  • 我 学 汉语 以来 ,我 认识 了 很多 中国 朋友 。Cóng wǒ xué Hànyǔ yǐlái, wǒ rènshi le hěn duō Zhōngguó péngyou.Since I started studying Chinese, I've made a lot of Chinese friends.

Pattern 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 length of time, rather than a specific date. 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 Period + 来 ,⋯⋯

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

Examples

  • 十 年 ,房价 一直 在 涨 。Shí nián lái, fángjià yīzhí zài zhǎng.For the past decade, housing prices have been continuously 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.Our company's income has been steadily increasing over the past few years.
  • 实习 几 个 月 ,我 学到 了 很 多 。Shíxí jǐ gè yuè lái, wǒ xuédào le hěn duō.I've learned a lot from my internship during the last few months.
  • 出国 几 个 月 ,她 一点 也 不 想 家 。Chūguó jǐ gè yuè lái, tā yīdiǎn yě bù xiǎng jiā.She hasn't missed home at all since she went abroad a few month ago.
  • 离婚 这 几 年 ,他 从 没 去 看 过 孩子 。Líhūn zhè jǐ nián lái, tā cóng méi qù kàn guo háizi.Since getting divorced these past few years, he's never visited his child.
  • 这 三 个 月 ,我 每天 都 在 想 她。Zhè sān ge yuè lái, wǒ měitiān dōu zài xiǎng tā.I've been missing her every day these past three months.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books