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ChineseGrammarWiki


			
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							{{Grammar Box}} 

While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "after," they have distinct uses.

== 以后 is used for the future in general ==

以后 is used when talking about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future.

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
以后， + Subj. + Verb + Obj.
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* <em>以后</em> ， 我 打算 去 中国 找 工作 。 <span class="pinyin"><em>Yǐhòu</em>, wǒ dǎsuàn qù Zhōngguó zhǎo gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">Later, I plan to go to China to look for work.</span>
* 他 <em>以后</em> 不 想 住 在 日本 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā <em>yǐhòu</em> bù xiǎng zhù zài Rìběn.</span><span class="trans">He doesn't want to live in Japan later.</span>
* 我 <em>以后</em> 想 自己 开 公司 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ <em>yǐhòu</em> xiǎng zìjǐ kāi gōngsī.</span><span class="trans">I want to start up my own business later.</span>
</div>

== 以后 is used for things occurring after a specific time ==

以后 can be used to describe actions or events that occur after a specific time (and the time must be given).

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Time + 以后， Subj. + Verb + Obj.
</div>

Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence). 

=== Examples ===

<div class=liju> 

* 两 个 星期 <em>以后</em> ，我 要 回 美国 。 <span class="pinyin">Liǎng gè xīngqī <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒ yào huí Měiguó.</span><span class="trans">After two weeks, I'm going to return to the USA.</span>
* 老板 一 个 小时 <em>以后</em> 回来 。 <span class="pinyin">Lǎobǎn yī gè xiǎoshí <em>yǐhòu</em> huílái.</span><span class="pinyin"> <span class="trans">The boss will come back in an hour.</span>
* 从 那 <em>以后</em> ，我 再 也 没 见 过 她 。 <span class="pinyin">Cóng nà <em>yǐhòu</em>, wǒ zài yě méi jiàn guo tā.</span><span class="trans">After that time, I never saw her again.</span>

== 后来 is used for sequencing past events ==

后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "afterward."

=== Strucure ===

<div class="jiegou">
Past Event 1 + 后来 + Past Event 2
</div>

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
* 去年 我们 分手 了 ， <em>后来</em> 再 也 没 见 过 她 。 <span class="pinyin">Qùnián wǒmen fēnshǒu le, <em>hòulái</em> zài yě méi jiàn guo tā.</span><span class="trans">We broke up last year, after that, I never saw her again.</span>
* 他 小时候 住 在 我 家 附近 ， <em>后来</em> 他 搬家 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā xiǎoshíhou zhù zài wǒ jiā fùjìn, <em>hòulái</em> tā bānjiā le.</span><span class="trans">He lived in my neighborhood when he was young. Then he moved.</span>
* 他 在 我们 公司 工作 过 两年 ， <em>后来</em> 换 工作 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā zài wǒmen gōngsī gōngzuò guo liǎng nián, <em>hòulái</em> huàn gōngzuò le.</span><span class="trans">He worked for our company for two years. Then he changed his job.</span>

</div>

== Right or Wrong ==

=== Examples ===

<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li class="x"><strong>后来</strong> 不想再见到你！</li>
<li class="o"><strong>以后</strong> 不想再见到你！</li>
<li class="x">我 决定<strong>后来</strong> 不 喝 葡萄酒。 </li>
<li class="o">我 决定<strong>以后</strong> 不 喝 葡萄酒。 </li>
<li class="x">两 个 星期 <strong>后来</strong> ，我们 回 美国。</li>
<li class="o">两 个 星期 <strong>以后</strong> ，我们 回 美国。</li>
<li class="x">我们 <em>以后</em> 分手了，到 现在 已经 一 年 了。</li>
<li class="o">我们 <em>后来</em> 分手了，到 现在 已经 一 年 了。</li>
<li class="o"> 我们 在 一起 两 个 月<em>以后</em> 分手了，到 现在 已经 一 年 了。</li>
</ul>
</div>

==See Also==
*[[In the future in general]]
*[[Sequencing past events with "houlai"]]
*[[After a specific time]]
*[[Comparing "houlai" and "ranhou"]]

== Sources and further reading ==

=== Books ===
*[[对外汉语教学语法释疑201例]] (以后 vs 后来 p.5) [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）]] (p. 614) [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]
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 268) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
* [[Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar]] (pp. 26 - 27) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933330899/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=1933330899 →buy]
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2]] (pp. 294) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276709/ref%3das_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276709 →buy]
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 267) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108  →buy] 


[[Category:grammar comparison]]
{{Basic Grammar|以后|B1|以后 vs 后来| <em>后来</em> 他 去 了 美国 ， 不 知道 <em>以后</em> 什么 时候 会 再 见 到 他 。|grammar point|ASGNPJ7T}}
{{Rel char|后来}}
{{Similar|in the future in general}}
{{Similar|Sequencing past events with "houlai"}}
{{Similar|After a specific time}}
{{Used for|Expressing time and date}}
{{Used for|Sequencing events in time}}
{{Used for|Expressing order}}
{{Translation|later}}
{{Translation|after}}
{{Comparison|Time Words}}