Chinese Grammar Bank
HOW TO USE 以来
If you want to say “since something started, something else has been happening”, you’ll have to learn how to use 以来 (yǐ lái) .
It is the most common way to say “ever since”.
Meaning: from the time or event mentioned until the present time.
HOW TO USE 以来 TO SAY “EVER SINCE”
以来 (yǐ lái) is simply placed after the time phrase to refer to that time period until the present time.
In written form or more formal settings, 自 (zì) or 从 (cóng) may be added before the time or event.
In some cases, you can understand 以来 as something having happened for a certain period of time.
PATTERN
(自/从 +) period of time/event + 以来
三天以来，他都在为了考试做准备。
He has been preparing for the exam for three days.View More Phrases
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 自三年以来，他还没笑。 | zì sān nián yǐlái, tā hái méi xiào. | He hasn’t smiled since three years ago. |
| 离婚以来，他没看他的儿子。 | líhūn yǐlái, tā méi kàn tā de érzi. | He hasn’t seen his son since the divorce. |
| 从那年以来，我已经换过三个工作。 | cóng nà nián yǐlái, wǒ yǐjīng huànguò sān gè gōngzuò. | Since that year, I have changed jobs three times already. |
| 我开始大学以来已经五年了。 | wǒ kāishǐ dàxué yǐlái yǐjīng wǔ niánle. | It’s been five years since I started university. |
| 他为什么从去年以来不要吃肉？ | tā wèishéme cóng qùnián yǐlái bu yào chī ròu? | Why has he not eaten meat since last year? |
| 这是我有生以来最好的一天。 | zhè shì wǒ yǒushēngyǐlái zuì hǎo de yītiān. | This is the best day of my life. |
| 从去年以来，她瘦了很多。 | cóng qùnián yǐlái, tā shòule hěnduō. | She has lost a lot of weight since last year. |
USING 来 TO SAY “EVER SINCE”
When you use 来 (lái) to say “ever since” or “over the past”, 来 (lái) must come after a length of time like a number of hours, days, months, years, or decades etc.
You can use 几 to say “a few” if you don’t want to specify a number or are not sure of the exact number.
PATTERN
Length of time + 来
六个月来，咱们一直在努力工作。
We have been working hard for six months.View More Phrases
| CHINESE | PINYIN | ENGLISH |
|---|---|---|
| 感谢你这些年来所做的一切。 | gǎnxiè nǐ zhèxiē niánlái suǒ zuò de yīqiè. | Thank you for everything you have done over the years. |
| 几年来，我没有回过家。 | jǐ niánlái, wǒ méiyǒu huíguò jiā. | I have returned home for the past few years. |
| 几个月来，我认识了很多朋友。 | jǐ gè yuè lái, wǒ rènshíle hěnduō péngyǒu. | Over the past few months, I have made a lot of friends. |
| 结婚一年来，他们没吵过架。 | jiéhūn yī niánlái, tāmen méi chǎoguò jià. | Over their one year of marriage, they have not had an argument. |
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FAQs
What is 以来 used for?
以来 (yǐ lái) is used to refer to a period of time from the past until the present time, like “since” or “ever since”.
What is the sentence structure of 以来?
This is sentence structures for 以来:
– period of time/event + 以来
You can add “自” or “从” before the period of time or event
– 自/从 + [period of time] + 以来
What are some sentences with 以来?
我开始大学以来已经五年了。
wǒ kāishǐ dàxué yǐlái yǐjīng wǔ niánle.
It’s been five years since I started university.
离婚以来，他没看他的儿子。
líhūn yǐlái, tā méi kàn tā de érzi.
He hasn’t seen his son since the divorce.
他为什么从去年以来不要吃肉？
tā wèishéme cóng qùnián yǐlái bu yào chī ròu?
Why has he not eaten meat since last year?
How do I use 来 to mean “ever since”?
来 (lái) comes after a length of time like a number of days or years, etc to mean “ever since”:
length of time + 来:
– 几个月来，我认识了很多朋友。jǐ gè yuè lái, wǒ rènshíle hěnduō péngyǒu. Over the past few months, I have made a lot of friends.
– 结婚一年来，他们没吵过架。jiéhūn yī niánlái, tāmen méi chǎoguò jià. Over their one year of marriage, they have not had an argument.
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