Ever since – zì…yǐlái

Grammar Point:
The Chinese grammar structure 自 zì… 以來来 yǐlái is used to express “ever since” in English. This structure indicates that something has been happening continuously from a certain point in the past up to the present.

Structure

Zì + Time or Event + yǐlái

Compared with just using 自 zì, 從从 cóng, or 自從从 zìcóng, note that using 以來来 yǐlái together is more formal and often used in written contexts.

自zì你nǐ開始kāishǐ學xué中文zhōngwén以來yǐlái，你nǐ已經yǐjīng換huàn了le10個ge老師lǎoshī了le自zì你nǐ开始kāishǐ学xué中文zhōngwén以来yǐlái，你nǐ已经yǐjīng换huàn了le10个ge老师lǎoshī了le
Since you started learning Chinese, you’ve already changed ten teachers.

自zì我wǒ通過tōngguòHSK6以來yǐlái，我wǒ平均píngjūn每měi個ge禮拜lǐbài都dōu會huì收到shōudào一次yícì公司gōngsī面試miànshì邀請yāoqǐng自zì我wǒ通过tōngguòHSK6以来yǐlái，我wǒ平均píngjūn每měi个ge礼拜lǐbài都dōu会huì收到shōudào一次yícì公司gōngsī面试miànshì邀请yāoqǐng
Since I passed HSK 6, I’ve been receiving job interview invitations from companies about once a week.

自zì2023年nián以來yǐlái，他tā就jiù一直yìzhí想xiǎng找zhǎo一yí個ge女朋友nǚpéngyǒu自zì2023年nián以来yǐlái，他tā就jiù一直yìzhí想xiǎng找zhǎo一yí个ge女朋友nǚpéngyou
Since 2023, he has been looking for a girlfriend.

自zì我wǒ會huì說shuō中文zhōngwén以來yǐlái，我wǒ認識rènshì了le很hěn多duō位wèi中國Zhōngguó朋友péngyǒu自zì我wǒ会huì说shuō中文zhōngwén以来yǐlái，我wǒ认识rènshi了le很hěn多duō位wèi中国Zhōngguó朋友péngyou
Since I learned to speak Chinese, I’ve made many Chinese friends.

自zì那nà次cì大dà地震dìzhèn以來yǐlái，台灣人Táiwānrén就jiù一直yìzhí睡shuì不bù安穩ānwěn自zì那nà次cì大dà地震dìzhèn以来yǐlái，台湾人Táiwānrén就jiù一直yìzhí睡shuì不bu安稳ānwěn
Since that earthquake, people in Taiwan haven’t been sleeping well.

自zì她tā的de狗gǒu去世qùshì以來yǐlái，她tā就jiù沒méi再zài笑xiào過guò了le自zì她tā的de狗gǒu去世qùshì以来yǐlái，她tā就jiù没méi再zài笑xiào过guò了le
Since her dog passed away, she hasn’t smiled.

A Chinese Song

這些日子以來这些日子以来 After Those Days

從cóng你nǐ信xìn中zhōng我wǒ才cái明白míngbái从cóng你nǐ信xìn中zhōng我wǒ才cái明白míngbai

這些zhèxiē日子rìzi以來yǐlái，在zài你nǐ心中xīnzhōng已經yǐjīng有yǒu了le另一個lìngyíge女孩nǚhái这些zhèxiē日子rìzi以来yǐlái，在zài你nǐ心中xīnzhōng已经yǐjīng有yǒu了le另一个lìngyíge女孩nǚhái

我wǒ知道zhīdào愛情àiqíng不能bùnéng勉強miǎnqiáng，但是dànshì我wǒ還是háishì無法wúfǎ釋懷shìhuái我wǒ知道zhīdào爱情àiqíng不能bùnéng勉强miǎnqiáng，但是dànshì我wǒ还是háishì无法wúfǎ释怀shìhuái