Expressing "ever since" with "yilai"

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.

Structure with 以来

Basic Pattern

To express "ever since," all one needs to do is put "以来" (yǐlái) 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).

This grammar pattern is usually used to start a statement.

Time / Event + 以来

Examples

• 毕业 以来 ，他 一直 在 教 英语 。Since I was in college, I haven't skipped a class.
• 结婚 以来 ，我们 从来 没 吵 过 架 。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 。

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

Advanced Pattern

When you need to use 以来 in a more formal or written context, you can add 自 or 自从 (or other similar words) before the time or event.

自 / 自从 + Time or Event + 以来

Examples

• 自从 去年 圣诞节以来，他 一直 没有 回 过 家 。Zìcóng qùnián xiàtiān yǐlái, tā yīzhí méiyǒu huíguò jiā.He hasn't returned home since last Christmas.
• 自从辞职以来，我 都 在 旅行 。Since I quit my job, I've been traveling.

Structure 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).

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

Time Interval + 来

Examples

• 三 个 月来，我们 去 了 很 多地方 旅游。Sān gè yuè lái, wǒmen qù le hěn duō dìfang lǚyóu.Since three months ago, we've traveled to a lot of places.
• 五 年 来，物价 一直 上涨。Wǔ nián lái, wùjià yīzhí shàngzhǎng.Ever since five years ago, prices have been going up.
• 我 的 同学 几 天 来 一直 没有 上课。Wǒ de tóngxué jǐ tiān lái yīzhí méiyǒu shàngkè.My classmate hasn't come to class for a few days now.

See also

• Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"
• "Ever since" with "zicong"

Sources and further reading

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4) (p. 203) →buy
• Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇) (p. 25) →buy
• 现代汉语八百词 （p. 616) →buy
• 卓越汉语－公司实战篇 (p. 36) →buy