自从 (zicong) — ever since — HSK 5

自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb

自从 (zì cóng) — ever since

HSK 5Prepositions

自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb

HSK 5Prepositions

自从 (zì cóng) — ever since

Rule structure

自从 (zìcóng) is similar to 以来 (yǐlái) but emphasizes the starting point of a change. Often paired with 就 (jiù) to indicate a new state.

Rule structure

自从 (zìcóng) is similar to 以来 (yǐlái) but emphasizes the starting point of a change. Often paired with 就 (jiù) to indicate a new state.

Examples

自从有了孩子，她就没工作过。

Zìcóng yǒu le háizi, tā jiù méi gōngzuò guo.

Ever since she had a child, she hasn’t worked.

Examples

自从有了孩子，她就没工作过。

Zìcóng yǒu le háizi, tā jiù méi gōngzuò guo.

Ever since she had a child, she hasn’t worked.

Practice

Build the sentence

Drag the characters to put them in the correct order

Characters

Words from this rule

自从

zìcóng

Since, ever since

就

jiù

Immediately, exactly, then, and... (adverb)

一直

yìzhí

Always

有

yǒu

To have

了

Particle (completed action or change of state)

孩子

háizi

Child

她

tā

She

工作

gōngzuò

To work; work, job

过

guo

Indicates past experience (particle)

Frequently asked questions

How do you say “ever since” in Chinese with 自从?

Use the structure: 自从 (zìcóng) + Event, Subj. + 就 (jiù) / 一直 (yìzhí) + Verb. For example: 自从有了孩子，她就没工作过。 — “Ever since she had a child, she hasn’t worked”.

What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?

自从有了孩子，她就没工作过。 — “Ever since she had a child, she hasn’t worked”.

Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?

This grammar rule is part of HSK 5.

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More HSK 5 grammar rules

就 — only, just

就 (jiù) + Measure Word / Noun (only, just)

包括 — including with 在内

包括 (bāokuò) + X + 在内 (zàinèi), Group + 都 (dōu) + Verb

朝 vs 向 vs 往 — direction prepositions

朝 (cháo) / 向 (xiàng) / 往 (wǎng) + Direction + Verb

对 vs 对于 — to, regarding

对 (duì) + Person + Verb / 对于 (duìyú) + Topic + Verb

对于 vs 至于 — as for, regarding

对于 (duìyú) + Topic (focus) / 至于 (zhìyú) + Topic (transition)

凭 — on the basis of

凭 (píng) + Noun + Verb

给 vs 为 — for someone's benefit

给 (gěi) + Recipient + Verb (transfer) / 为 (wèi) + Beneficiary + Verb (for the sake of)

对 — for… with 而言

对 (duì) / 对于 (duìyú) + Topic + 而言 (ér yán)