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. Pattern 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. 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. ### Examples Pattern 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 This form cannot be used with 自, 从, or 自从 (or other similar words). ### Examples See also ------------------------------------------------------- - [Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Before_and_after_with_%22zhiqian%22_and_%22zhihou%22) - [Expressing "ever since" with "zicong"](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Expressing_%22ever_since%22_with_%22zicong%22) Sources and further reading --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ### Books - [New Practical Chinese Reader 4 (新实用汉语课本4)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/New_Practical_Chinese_Reader_4_(%E6%96%B0%E5%AE%9E%E7%94%A8%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%BE%E6%9C%AC4)) (pp. 203) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7561913192/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=7561913192) - [Boya Chinese Elementary Starter 2 (博雅汉语初经起步篇)](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Boya_Chinese_Elementary_Starter_2_(%E5%8D%9A%E9%9B%85%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%88%9D%E7%BB%8F%E8%B5%B7%E6%AD%A5%E7%AF%87)) (pp. 25) [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301078617/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301078617) - [现代汉语八百词](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D) (pp. 616) [→buy](http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001198GSW&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001198GSW) - [卓越汉语－公司实战篇](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/%E5%8D%93%E8%B6%8A%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%EF%BC%8D%E5%85%AC%E5%8F%B8%E5%AE%9E%E6%88%98%E7%AF%87) (pp. 36) \[ →buy\] - [HSK Standard Course 5上](https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/HSK_Standard_Course_5%E4%B8%8A) (pp. 11) [→buy](https://amzn.to/2rwwnu1)