ChineseGrammarWiki/MD/A2/31.mw.html

<p>Just as <a href="Before_a_specific_time_with_&quot;yiqian&quot;" title="wikilink">以前 (yǐqián) can be used</a> to describe the events <em>before</em> a specific time, 以后 (yǐhòu) can be used to describe the events <em>after</em> a specific time.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>This grammar structure is similar to the English &quot;after such-and-such, something happens.&quot; It's quite simple, all you have to do is put the &quot;after&quot; after the time words or time phrase.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Time / Verb + 以后, ....</p>
</div>
<p>The time can be a time or date, or an action or event. It may or may not be in the future.</p>
<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li><strong>下午 三点</strong> <em>以后</em>， 我 不 在 家。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàwǔ sāndiǎn</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒ bù zài jiā.</span><span class="trans">After three p.m., I will not be at home.</span></li>
<li><strong>来 中国</strong> <em>以后</em>， 她 认识 了 她 的 老公。 <span class="pinyin"><strong>Lái Zhōngguó</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>, tā rènshi le tā de lǎogōng.</span><span class="trans">After coming to China, she met her husband.</span></li>
<li>她 <strong> 一个月</strong> <em>以后</em> 开始 上班。<span class="pinyin">Tā <strong>yī gè yuè</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em> kāishǐ shàngbān.</span><span class="trans">After one month, she will start working.</span></li>
<li><strong> 吃 完 午饭 </strong> <em>以后</em> ， 我们 要 开会。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Chī wán wǔfàn </strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒmen yào kāihuì.</span><span class="trans">We are going to have a meeting after we finish lunch.</span></li>
<li><strong> 几年 </strong> <em>以后</em> ，我们 公司 会 更 大。<span class="pinyin"><strong>Jǐ nián </strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒmen gōngsī huì gèng dà.</span><span class="trans">In a few years, our company will be even bigger.</span></li>
<li>老板 <strong>半个小时</strong> <em>以后</em> 回来。<span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong> bàn gè xiǎoshí</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="trans">After half an hour, the boss will return.</span></li>
<li><strong>下班</strong> <em>以后</em>你 想 跟 我们 一起 去 打球 吗? <span class="pinyin"><strong>Xiàbān</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em>, nǐ xiǎng gēn wǒmen yīqǐ qù dǎqiú ma? </span><span  class="trans">After we get off work, would you like to go play ball with us? </span></li>
<li>老板 <strong>来 </strong> 了 <em>以后</em> ，大家 都 不 说话 了。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn <strong> lái </strong> le <em>yǐhòu</em>, dàjiā dōu bù shuōhuà le.</span><span class="trans">After the boss came, everyone stopped talking.</span></li>
<li>你 <strong>到家</strong> <em>以后</em> 给 我 打电话。<span class="pinyin">Nǐ <strong>dào jiā</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em> gěi wǒ dǎ diànhuà.</span><span class="trans">After you get home, call me.</span></li>
<li><strong>结婚</strong> <em>以后</em> 爸爸 不 喝酒 了。<span class="pinyin"> <strong>Jiéhūn</strong> <em>yǐhòu</em> bàba bù hējiǔ le.</span><span class="trans">After he got married, dad stopped drinking.</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>Note that this use of 以后 (yǐhòu) is often shortened to 后 (hòu).</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Before_a_specific_time" title="wikilink">Before a specific time</a></li>
<li><a href="In_the_future_in_general" title="wikilink">In the future in general</a></li>
<li><a href="At_the_time_when" title="wikilink">At the time when</a></li>
<li><a href="Before_and_after_with_&quot;zhiqian&quot;_and_&quot;zhihou&quot;" title="wikilink">Before and after with &quot;zhiqian&quot; and &quot;zhihou&quot;</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further reading</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide" title="wikilink">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide</a> (p. 261) <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0415700108">→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<p>              </p>
<p><a href="Category:A2_grammar_points" title="wikilink">Category:A2 grammar points</a></p>