“Ever since” in Chinese

Grammar Point:
從从 cóng… 起 qǐ in Chinese is used to indicate the starting point or moment of an action or situation. It’s similar in meaning to “ever since” or “starting from…” in English.

Structure

Cóng + Time + qǐ

It is also common to use 後后 hòu to replace 起 qǐ. However, 起 qǐ implies that the action or situation will continue into the future, while 後后 hòu implies the action or situation up until now.

從cóng去年qùnián夏天xiàtiān起qǐ， 他tā就jiù開始kāishǐ學習xuéxí中文zhōngwén从cóng去年qùnián夏天xiàtiān起qǐ， 他tā就jiù开始kāishǐ学习xuéxí中文zhōngwén
Ever since last summer, he has been learning Chinese.

從cóng八月bāyuè起qǐ政府zhèngfǔ要yào提高tígāo稅收shuìshōu从cóng八月bāyuè起qǐ政府zhèngfǔ要yào提高tígāo税收shuìshōu
Starting from August, the government will increase taxes.

從cóng疫情yìqíng結束jiéshù起qǐ， 物價wùjià就jiù回不去huíbúqù了le， 什麼shénme都dōu貴guì从cóng疫情yìqíng结束jiéshù起qǐ， 物价wùjià就jiù回不去huíbúqù了le， 什么shénme都dōu贵guì
Ever since the end of the pandemic, prices have remained high; everything is expensive.

從cóng上次shàngcì見面jiànmiàn後hòu， 我wǒ就jiù沒méi見jiàn過guò他tā了le从cóng上次shàngcì见面jiànmiàn后hòu， 我wǒ就jiù没méi见jiàn过guò他tā了le
Since the last time we met, I haven’t seen him.

從cóng我們wǒmen吵架chǎojià後hòu， 就jiù再zài也yě沒méi說shuō過guò話huà了le从cóng我们wǒmen吵架chǎojià后hòu， 就jiù再zài也yě没méi说shuō过guò话huà了le
Since our argument, we haven’t spoken again.

從cóng晚上wǎnshàng10 點diǎn起qǐ， 中國Zhōngguó的de未成年wèichéngnián禁止jìnzhǐ上網shàngwǎng从cóng晚上wǎnshang10 点diǎn起qǐ， 中国Zhōngguó的de未成年wèichéngnián禁止jìnzhǐ上网shàngwǎng
Starting from 10 p.m., minors in China are prohibited from going online.

FYI
The regulations, known as the “Online Game Anti-Addiction System,” involved limiting the amount of time minors (under 18 years old) could spend playing online games. Minors were allowed to play for a set amount of time per day, typically with no access to online gaming services between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m.
(Update in January 2022)

從cóng我wǒ決定juédìng開始kāishǐ減肥jiǎnféi後hòu， 我wǒ就jiù每天měitiān心情xīnqíng都dōu很hěn不好bùhǎo从cóng我wǒ决定juédìng开始kāishǐ减肥jiǎnféi后hòu， 我wǒ就jiù每天měitiān心情xīnqíng都dōu很hěn不好bùhǎo
Since I decided to start losing weight, I’ve been feeling unhappy every day.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Ever since they moved away, our lives have become better.

從cóng他們tāmen搬bān走zǒu起qǐ， 我們wǒmen的de生活shēnghuó就jiù變biàn美好měihǎo了le从cóng他们tāmen搬bān走zǒu起qǐ， 我们wǒmen的de生活shēnghuó就jiù变biàn美好měihǎo了le

✔️ Since the car accident, she has been afraid to drive alone.

從cóng車禍chēhuò發生fāshēng後hòu， 她tā就jiù害怕hàipà一個人yígerén開車kāichē从cóng车祸chēhuò发生fāshēng后hòu， 她tā就jiù害怕hàipà一个人yígerén开车kāichē

✔️ Ever since I became pregnant, I have constantly wanted to eat spicy food.

從cóng懷孕huáiyùn起qǐ， 我wǒ就jiù一直yìzhí想xiǎng吃chī辣的làde从cóng怀孕huáiyùn起qǐ， 我wǒ就jiù一直yìzhí想xiǎng吃chī辣的làde