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
Examples
- 1977 年 他 考上 了 大学，后来 就 没 回 过 老家。In 1977, he went to college. He didn't come back to his hometown after that.
然后 is used to describe things happens next
然后 is always used in a sequence. It is often used with 先 (xiān, meaning "first").
Structure
Examples
- 我们 先 去 吃饭 ， 然后 去 超市 。 Wǒmen xiān qù chīfàn, ránhòu qù chāoshì.I'm going to eat, then I'll go to the supermarket.
- 他 先 说 了 一 个 好 消息 ， 然后 又 说 了 一 个 坏 消息 。 Tā xiān shuō le yī gè hǎo xiāoxi, ránhòu yòu shuō le yī gè huài xiāoxi.First he told the good news, then he told the bad news.
Examples of right and wrong sentences
- 我们 想 先 去 美国， 后来 去 加拿大。
- 我们 想 先 去 美国， 然后 去 加拿大。
Example dialog
- A: 我 先 去 你 家，然后 你 和 我 一起 去 见 她？First I'll go to your house, then you and I can go together to see her.
- B: 对。你们 几 年 没 见 了？Sure. How many years has it been that you haven't seen each other?
- A:两 年 前 她 出国 了， 后来 就 一直 没 见过 她。She left the country two years ago. Since then, I haven't seen her.
Sources and further reading
Books
Dictionaries
Category:grammar comparison