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Sequencing past events with 后来 ("hou4lai2")

后来 hòulái

Noun
HSK 3

Structure

[Past Event 1] ，后来 ，[Past Event 2]

Definition

后来表示在某个时间点之后，通常用于叙述过去的事件顺序。

"后来" (hòulái) indicates a time after a certain point, commonly used to sequence past events.

Usage

后来通常放在句子开头，连接前后两个事件，表示时间上的先后顺序。也可以放在动词前或句末。

"后来" is often placed at the beginning of a sentence to connect two events in chronological order. It can also appear before a verb or at the end of a sentence.

Examples

  • 1 他先去了北京，后来去了上海。 (He first went to Beijing, later went to Shanghai.)
  • 2 我们开始是朋友，后来成为了恋人。 (We were friends at first, later became lovers.)
  • 3 他后来才明白这个道理。 (He only understood this principle later.)
  • 4 她后来告诉我真相。 (She told me the truth later.)
  • 5 后来，他们定居在法国。 (Later, they settled in France.)

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