1. Meaning and Usage
The grammatical structure 从...以后 (cóng... yǐhòu) is used to express "since," "ever since," or "from [a certain time/event] onward."
- 从 (cóng) means "from."
- 以后 (yǐhòu) means "after" or "afterward."
When combined, they frame a specific starting point in time (which can be a time word, a date, or an event) and indicate that a certain state, habit, or action began at that point and has continued up to the present (or up to the time being discussed).
2. Formulas and Examples
Case 1: With a Specific Time Point
Use this structure when the starting point is a specific calendar time, year, month, or day.
$$从 + \text{Time Point} + 以后，\text{Subject} + \text{Verb Phrase}$$
从去年以后，他就不吃肉了。 Cóng qùnián yǐhòu, tā jiù bù chī ròu le. Ever since last year, he hasn't eaten meat.
从上个月以后，他就没有来过学校。 Cóng shàng ge yuè yǐhòu, tā jiù méiyǒu láiguò xuéxiào. Since last month, he has not come to school.
Case 2: With an Action or Event
Use this structure when the starting point is defined by a specific occurrence, action, or life event (e.g., graduating, moving, getting married).
$$从 + \text{Event / Verb Phrase} + 以后，\text{Subject} + \text{Verb Phrase}$$
从大学毕业以后，她就在北京工作。 Cóng dàxué bìyè yǐhòu, tā jiù zài Běijīng gōngzuò. Ever since graduating from university, she has been working in Beijing.
从搬到这里以后，我交了很多朋友。 Cóng bān dào zhèlǐ yǐhòu, wǒ jiāo le hěn duō péngyou. Since moving here, I have made many friends.
3. Essential HSK Tips & Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Confusing "从...以后" (continuous state) with simple "以后" (sequential events)
English speakers often confuse "since" (从...以后) with "after" (以后 / 之后).
- Use 从...以后 only when you are describing a continuous state or ongoing habit that started from that point.
- If you are simply describing a sequence of one-time events ("After X happened, I did Y"), do NOT use "从". Use only "以后" or "之后".
Incorrect:
从下课以后，我去商店买苹果。 Cóng xiàkè yǐhòu, wǒ qù shāngdiàn mǎi píngguǒ. (This is incorrect because buying apples is a one-time action, not a continuous state starting from class end.)
Correct:
下课以后，我去商店买苹果。 Xiàkè yǐhòu, wǒ qù shāngdiàn mǎi píngguǒ. After class, I went to the store to buy apples.
Mistake 2: Forgetting to use "一直" (yīzhí) or "就" (jiù)
In Chinese, sentences starting with "从...以后" almost always require an adverb like 一直 (yīzhí - always/continuously) or 就 (jiù - then/ever since) in the main clause to emphasize the continuity of the action. Leaving these out makes the sentence sound unnatural.
从结婚以后，他们一直住在这里。 Cóng jiéhūn yǐhòu, tāmen yīzhí zhù zài zhèlǐ. Since getting married, they have lived here all along.
HSK Exam Tip: The abbreviation "从此以后" (cóngcǐ yǐhòu)
In HSK level 3 and 4 reading sections, you will often see the four-character idiom 从此以后 (cóngcǐ yǐhòu) .
- 此 (cǐ) is a formal word for "this" or "here."
- 从此以后 means "from this [point] onward" or "from then on." It is used to transition between sentences when the starting event has already been mentioned in the previous sentence.
从此以后，他每天都跑步。 Cóngcǐ yǐhòu, tā měitiān dōu pǎobù. From then on, he went running every day.