{{Grammar Box}} 
自从 means "ever since" in English, and is used to express the starting point of an action in the past. It can be followed by phrases using the markers 起 and [[After a specific time|以后]]

==Structure==

<div class="jiegou">
自从 + [Starting Point]

</div>

==Examples==

<div class="liju"> 
* <em>自从</em> 来 到 湖南，我 越 来 越 能 吃 辣 了。<span class="trans">Ever since arriving in Hunan, I've been more and more able to eat spicy food.</span>
* <em>自从</em> 金融 危机 爆发，就业 市场 变 得 越 来 越 不 景气 了。<span class="trans">Ever since the economic crisis, the job market has been growing less and less.</span>
* <em>自从</em> 他 跟 我 分手 后，他 就 没有 联系 过 我。<span class="trans">Ever since he broke up with me, he hasn't contacted me.</span>
</div>

In the above examples, 从 can be used interchangeably with 自从. The main difference is that 从 can also be used to state starting points in the future, a little like "from" in English. 自从 cannot be used in this way.

<div class="liju">

<ul>
<li class="o"> <em>从</em> 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。<span class="trans">Starting from tomorrow, I'm going to study seriously.</span> </li>
<li class="x"> <em>自从</em> 明天 开始，我 要 认真 看 书。</li>
</ul>

</div>

Note that 从 can be used to denote [["From… To…" with "cong… dao…"|starting points in place and time]], whereas 自从 can only be used to express starting points in time.

==See also==
*[[From… to…]]
*[[Saying "ever since" with "yilai"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===

* [[Boya Chinese Lower Intermediate 1 (博雅汉语准中级加速篇) ]] (pp. 218) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/7301075308/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=7301075308 →buy] 

[[Category: B2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|自从|B2|(自)从⋯⋯|<em>自从</em> 来 了 上海 ， 他 就 习惯 了 繁忙 的 生活 。|grammar point|ASGLI7GW}}
{{Rel char|从}}
{{Rel char|起}}
{{Rel char|以后}}
{{Similar|"From… To…" with "cong… dao…"}}
{{Similar|Saying "Ever Since" with "yilai"}}
{{Similar|Before and after with "zhiqian" and "zhihou"}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Used for|Referring to the past}}
{{Translation|since}}
{{POS|Prepositions}}