1. Home
  2. Grammar Points
  3. Expressing "ever since" with 自从 ("zi4cong2")

Expressing "ever since" with 自从 ("zi4cong2")

自从 zìcóng

Preposition
HSK 4

Structure

自从 + [Starting Point] ， …… 从 / 自从 / 自 + Time / Event + (以)后 / 以来

Translations

  • since

Definition

表示从某个时间点或事件开始，通常强调从那时起一直持续到现在的状态或变化。

Indicates 'since' a certain time point or event, often emphasizing a state or change that has continued from that point until now.

Usage

自从通常用于句首，后面接时间点或事件，主句中常用'就'或'都'来强调动作或状态的持续。

Since (zìcóng) is usually placed at the beginning of a sentence, followed by a time point or event, and the main clause often uses 'jiù' (就) or 'dōu' (都) to emphasize the continuity of an action or state.

Examples

  • 1 自从他来了以后，办公室的气氛就变得活跃了。(Since he came, the office atmosphere has become lively.)
  • 2 自从去年夏天开始，我就每天跑步。(Since last summer, I have been running every day.)
  • 3 自从她学会中文，她就开始看中文电影。(Since she learned Chinese, she started watching Chinese movies.)
  • 4 自从我们结婚，我们就一直住在这里。(Since we got married, we have been living here.)
  • 5 自从那次事故以后，他开车都特别小心。(Since that accident, he always drives very carefully.)
  • 6 自从上了大学，我就很少回家了。(Since I started college, I rarely go home.)

Put it into practice

Exam-style HSK drills with instant scoring and explanations.

Find my HSK level

Free · about 3 minutes · no account needed