Chinese word

以来

Pronunciation

Pinyinyǐ lái

Meaning

  • prepositionsince

Example

2000年以来，他一直住在北京。2000 nián yǐ lái tā yì zhí zhù zài běi jīng

He has lived in Beijing since 2000.

Illustration for 以来 (since)

More examples

自从去年以来，我的汉语进步很快。zì cóng qù nián yǐ lái wǒ de hàn yǔ jìn bù hěn kuài

Since last year, my Chinese has improved quickly.

Core concept

A chosen point on the timeline opens a stretch that continues forward to a later time.

Common phrases

  • 自从去年以来zì cóng qù nián yǐ lái

    since last year

  • 结婚以来jié hūn yǐ lái

    since I got married

Similar words

自从zì cóng: Shows that something has continued from a stated time or event onward.
从cóng: Marks the time, place, or point from which an action or state starts.

Definition in Chinese

用作介词，置于时间词之后，表示从那个时间点起直到现在或某一时刻的持续情况。yòng zuò jiè cí zhì yú shí jiān cí zhī hòu biǎo shì cóng nà ge shí jiān diǎn qǐ zhí dào xiàn zài huò mǒu yì shí kè de chí xù qíng kuàng

Word origin

以来 (yǐlái, "since then") combines 以 (yǐ, "by or at") with 来 (lái, "come"), connecting a starting time with what comes after it.

Usage tips

  • Unlike English since, this time marker follows the time expression it refers to, so its position shows where the continuing period begins.

Other meanings

  • since thenadverb
  • from then onadverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word