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以来 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
以来yǐláisince (a previous event)HSK 5, f, rank #1675, Medium
yǐlái(yi3lai2) T3
  1. 1since (a previous event)
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March 24, 2026
以来(以來)yǐlái(yi3lai2)

以来 (yǐlái) is a conjunction that translates to 'since' in English, indicating a point in time from which something has been occurring. It is commonly used to express the duration of an action or state that began in the past and continues to the present. For example, it can be used to refer to changes in personal circumstances or historical events.

Frequency#1675DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed in relation to events and experiences, making 以来 a useful term in discussions about personal growth and historical changes, such as '自改革开放以来' (since the reform and opening up).

Memory Tip

Think of 以 (yǐ) as 'to use' and 来 (lái) as 'to come.' Imagine a timeline where you 'use' a point in the past as the starting point, and from there 'come' into the present. Visualize a person standing at a point in time and saying, 'Since I started this journey, I have come a long way!'

Meanings of 以来

yǐlái(yi3lai2)
1since (a previous event)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 以来

以来Simplified
以來Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
方位词direction word (dir.)Part of Speech
#1675Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 以来

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Podcast: 以来

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AI Study Notes for 以来

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 以 (yǐ) as 'to use' and 来 (lái) as 'to come.' Imagine a timeline where you 'use' a point in the past as the starting point, and from there 'come' into the present. Visualize a person standing at a point in time and saying, 'Since I started this journey, I have come a long way!'

Usage Notes

Be careful to use 以来 with a timeframe that indicates a clear start point. It is often used in more formal contexts, especially in written language. Common collocations include '自...以来' (since...) and '从...以来' (from...until now).

HSK Study Tips

As a Level 5 HSK word, 以来 connects with other time-related vocabulary, such as 之前 (before) and 之后 (after). Focus on practicing its usage in sentences to express continuity and duration effectively.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed in relation to events and experiences, making 以来 a useful term in discussions about personal growth and historical changes, such as '自改革开放以来' (since the reform and opening up).

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 以来 with other time expressions. For example, saying '我来中国以来' (I came to China since) is incorrect; the correct form is '我来中国以来的生活' (My life since coming to China). Ensure you pair it with a clear temporal reference.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 以来

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Component Characters

以yǐto use
HSK 54 strokes人
View full entry
来láito come
HSK 17 strokes木
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Write 以来

以
来

Practice writing 以来 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 以来

以来 carries one core meaning. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.

Related grammar lessons4
Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

自去年____，我一直生活在北京。

Since last year, I have been living in Beijing.

Example Sentences for 以来 (10)

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1
我感谢他们长期以来忠诚的效力。

wǒ gǎn xiè tā mén cháng qī yǐ lái zhōng chéng de xiào lì。

I thanked them for their long and loyal service.
2
这是我很久以来听到的最好消息。

zhè shì wǒ hěn jiǔ yǐ lái tīng dào de zuì hǎo xiāo xī。

It's the best news I'veheard in a long time.
3
我认为这是有史以来播出的最烂的节目之一。

wǒ rèn wéi zhè shì yǒu shǐ yǐ lái bō chū de zuì làn de jié mù zhī yī。

I judged it to be one of the worst programmes ever screened.
4
“圣诞节以来物价降了4成，”他悲叹道。

“ “ shèng dàn jié yǐ lái wù jià jiàng4 le，” 4 chéng ，” tā。

"Prices are down 40 per cent since Christmas," he lamented.
5
他个人的心魔让他多年以来酗酒度日。

tā gè rén de xīn mó ràng tā duō nián yǐ lái xù jiǔ dù rì。

His private demons drove him to drink excessively for many years.
6
自去年6月以来，该国的失业率一直在不断上升。

zì qù nián6 6 yuè yǐ， lái ， gāi guó de shī yè shuài yī zhí zài bù duàn。

The nation's unemployment rate has been climbing steadily since last June.
7
这一地区3个月以来不断发生激战。

zhè yī dì qū3 3 gè yuè yǐ lái bù duàn fā shēng jī。

The area has been the scene of fierce fighting for three months.
8
萨拉热窝遭受了几个星期以来最严重的一次破坏。

sà lā rè wō zāo shòu le jī gè xīng qī yǐ lái zuì yán zhòng de yī cì pò huài。

Sarajevo took one of its worst poundings in weeks.
9
几个世纪以来否决权一直是外交上惯用的手段。

jī gè shì jì yǐ lái fǒu jué quán yī zhí shì wài jiāo shàng guàn yòng de shǒu duàn。

The veto has been a traditional instrument of diplomacy for centuries.
10
几个世纪以来，那里的农民只能勉强维持生计。

jī gè shì jì yǐ lái， ， nà lǐ de nóng mín zhī néng miǎn qiáng wéi chí shēng。

For centuries farmers there have only just managed to survive.

Cultural Notes for 以来

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of time is often viewed in relation to events and experiences, making 以来 a useful term in discussions about personal growth and historical changes, such as '自改革开放以来' (since the reform and opening up).

Frequently Asked Questions about 以来

You can say, '我从去年以来都在学习中文' (I have been studying Chinese since last year).