…以来
HSK 6- Time
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used to indicate a period of time that begins at a point in the past and continues uninterrupted up to the present.
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
以来 means "since… up to now." It marks the starting point of a time span and emphasizes that the state or action in the following clause has continued or recurred throughout that period. The time reference can be a specific point in time (去年以来), an event (大学毕业以来), or an unspecified duration (长期以来).
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 毕业以来，我们很少见面。繁: 畢業以來，我們很少見面。Bìyè yǐlái, wǒmen hěn shǎo jiànmiàn.
Since graduating, we have rarely seen each other.
- 来越南以来，他胖了五公斤。繁: 來越南以來，他胖了五公斤。Lái Yuènán yǐlái, tā pàng le wǔ gōngjīn.
Since coming to Vietnam, he has gained five kilograms.
- 改革开放以来，中国变化很大。繁: 改革開放以來，中國變化很大。Gǎigé kāifàng yǐlái, Zhōngguó biànhuà hěn dà.
Since the reform and opening up, China has undergone tremendous changes.
- 长期以来，他都坚持学习中文。繁: 長期以來，他都堅持學習中文。Chángqī yǐlái, tā dōu jiānchí xuéxí Zhōngwén.
For a long time, he has persistently insisted on studying Chinese.
- 今年以来，天气一直很热。繁: 今年以來，天氣一直很熱。Jīnnián yǐlái, tiānqì yìzhí hěn rè.
Since the beginning of this year, the weather has been hot all along.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他去年以来去了一次北京。Correct:他去年去了一次北京。
以来 indicates a duration of time and cannot be used for actions that occur only once; use a standard sentence structure instead.
- Wrong:我毕业以来会找工作。Correct:我毕业以后会找工作。
以来 is only used for past to present; to express the future after a time point, use 以后 instead.