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.

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.
  • 自从 改革 开放 以来 ,中国 社会 发生 了 巨大 的 变化 。Zìcóng 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.
  • 离婚 以来,她 一直 单身 。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