{{Grammar Box}} One of the most often confused words are 后来 (hòulái) and 然后 (ránhòu). They are similar on the surface, meaning something like "and then," but their usage is fairly different. == 后来 is used to describe previous things == 后来 is a time noun, and it can only be used on its own. It describes a certain time period in the past to the present, and it allows the speaker to described what happened in that period. === Structure === <div class="jiegou"> Part A,后来, Part B </div> === Examples === <div class="liju"> * 1977 年 他 考上 了 大学,<em>后来</em> 就 没 回 过 老家。<span class="trans">In 1977, he went to college. He didn't come back to his hometown after that.</span> </div> == 然后 is used to describe things happens next == 然后 is always used in a sequence. It is often used with [[Sequencing with "xian" and "zai"|先 (xiān, meaning "first")]]. === Structure === <div class="jiegou"> Action 1,然后 + Action 2 </div> === Examples === <div class="liju"> * 我们 先 去 吃饭 , <em>然后</em> 去 超市 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen xiān qù chīfàn, <em>ránhòu</em> qù chāoshì.</span><span class="trans">I'm going to eat, then I'll go to the supermarket.</span> * 他 先 说 了 一 个 好 消息 , <em>然后</em> 又 说 了 一 个 坏 消息 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā xiān shuō le yī gè hǎo xiāoxi, <em>ránhòu</em> yòu shuō le yī gè huài xiāoxi.</span><span class="trans">First he told the good news, then he told the bad news.</span> </div> == Examples of right and wrong sentences == <div class="liju"> <ul> <li class="x">我们 想 先 去 美国, <em>后来</em> 去 加拿大。</li> <li class="o">我们 想 先 去 美国, <em>然后</em> 去 加拿大。</li> </ul> </div> == Example dialog== <div class="liju"> * A: 我 先 去 你 家,<em>然后</em> 你 和 我 一起 去 见 她?<span class="trans">First I'll go to your house, then you and I can go together to see her.</span> * B: 对。你们 几 年 没 见 了?<span class="trans">Sure. How many years has it been that you haven't seen each other?</span> * A:两 年 前 她 出国 了, <em>后来</em> 就 一直 没 见过 她。<span class="trans">She left the country two years ago. Since then, I haven't seen her.</span> </div> == Sources and further reading == === Books === *[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (p.7) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy] *[[现代汉语八百词(增订本)]] (然后 pp. 461) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E5%85%AB%E7%99%BE%E8%AF%8D/dp/B001198GSW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693275&sr=8-1 →buy] === Dictionaries === * [[现代汉语词典(第5版)]] (后来 pp. 570) [http://www.amazon.cn/%E7%8E%B0%E4%BB%A3%E6%B1%89%E8%AF%AD%E8%AF%8D%E5%85%B8/dp/B001B1RZCI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345693609&sr=8-1 →buy] [[Category:grammar comparison]] {{Basic Grammar|然后|B1|然后 vs 后来|他 先 告诉 了 我 一 个 好 消息,<em>然后</em> 又 告诉 了 我 一 个 坏 消息,后来 他 就 走 了。|grammar point|ASGA3RJD}} {{Rel char|后来}} {{Used for|Describing actions}} {{Used for|Expressing time and date}} {{Used for|Expressing order}} {{Used for|Sequencing events in time}} {{Similar|Sequencing past events with "houlai"}} {{Comparison|Time Words}} {{Translation|then}} {{Translation|after}}