HSK 5 grammar · new HSK syllabus
自从…以来: ever since
自从 A 以来 = ever since A: 自从来中国以来，我的汉语进步了很多.
Structure
- 自从 + time / event + (以后 / 以来)，…
How it works
自从 marks a starting point in the past and what has been true since then: 自从他搬走以后，我们就没见过面.
以来 emphasises the whole period up to now; 以后 focuses on what came after.
Examples
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自从来中国以来，我认识了很多朋友。
Since coming to China, I’ve made many friends.
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自从他搬走以后，我们就没再见过面。
We haven’t met since he moved away.
-
自从开始跑步，我的身体好多了。
Since I started running, my health has improved a lot.
-
自从去年以来，这里的变化非常大。
There have been big changes here since last year.
-
自从有了孩子，她就很少出去玩了。
Since having a child, she rarely goes out.
Words in these examples (35)
| 自从 | zìcóng | since (a time); ever since | HSK 5 |
| 来 | lái | to come | HSK 1 |
| 中国 | Zhōngguó | China | HSK 1 |
| 以来 | yǐlái | since (used after a specified time or event) | HSK 5 |
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 认识 | rènshi | to know (someone); to recognize | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 很 | hěn | very | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 朋友 | péngyou | friend | HSK 1 |
| 他 | tā | he; him | HSK 1 |
| 搬 | bān | to move; to carry | HSK 3 |
| 走 | zǒu | to walk; to leave | HSK 2 |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later | HSK 3 |
| 我们 | wǒmen | we; us | HSK 1 |
| 就 | jiù | then; just; right away; only | HSK 2 |
| 再见 | zàijiàn | goodbye | HSK 1 |
| 过 | guò | to cross; to pass; to spend (time); to celebrate | HSK 2 |
| 面 | miàn | (ending for place words, as in 前面, 外面) | HSK 2 |
| 开始 | kāishǐ | to begin; to start | HSK 2 |
| 跑步 | pǎobù | to run; to jog | HSK 2 |
| 的 | de | (particle linking a describer to a noun, like "'s") | HSK 1 |
| 身体 | shēntǐ | body; health | HSK 2 |
| 好多 | hǎoduō | a lot of; many | HSK 3 |
| 去年 | qùnián | last year | HSK 1 |
| 这里 | zhèlǐ | here | HSK 1 |
| 变化 | biànhuà | change; to change | HSK 3 |
| 非常 | fēicháng | very; extremely | HSK 1 |
| 大 | dà | big; large; old (age) | HSK 1 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 孩子 | háizi | child | HSK 1 |
| 她 | tā | she; her | HSK 1 |
| 少 | shǎo | few; little; less | HSK 1 |
| 出去 | chūqù | to go out | HSK 2 |
| 玩 | wán | to play; to have fun | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
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✗自从明天以后…
✓从明天开始…
自从 refers to the past.
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✗我自从三年学汉语。
✓我学汉语三年了。
A length of time doesn’t take 自从.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 上了大学，他就很少回家。
2. 自从开始工作 ，我一直很忙。
3. 自从他走了，我们 没联系过。