Preposition: 从 (From)
介词：从
Use 从 to express the starting point of movement, time, or a range
Place 从 before the starting point (a place, time, or person), then add the verb. Often paired with 到 to mark both start and end points: 从……到……
从 marks WHERE something begins — either in space (从这儿) or in time (从明天). The combination 从……到…… is one of the most versatile patterns in Chinese.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Preposition: 从 (From) (介词：从)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 介词：从 pattern
New here?
Understanding 介词：从
Every journey has a starting point, and 从 is the word that marks it. 从北京到上海 means "from Beijing to Shanghai." 从早到晚 means "from morning to night." 从 is your "from" — it works for places, times, and even abstract starting points. One of its most practical uses is giving directions: 从这儿走五分钟就到了 (Walk five minutes from here and you will arrive). You will hear 从 in every aspect of daily life — bus routes (这路车从火车站到机场), work schedules (从九点到五点), and descriptions of experiences (从小到大 — from childhood to adulthood). The pair 从……到…… is especially powerful because it draws a line from start to finish.
Key Points
- 从 (cóng) = "from" — marks the starting point of space, time, or a process.
- 从……到…… = "from…to…" — marks both start and end points.
- 从 + place: 从北京来 (come from Beijing), 从这儿走 (walk from here).
- 从 + time: 从明天开始 (starting from tomorrow), 从早到晚 (from morning to night).
- 从 + person: 从他那儿 (from him / from his place).
- 从 often pairs with 过 (pass by): 这路车从学校门口过 (This bus passes by the school gate).
- 从来 (cónglái) is a special compound meaning "always / never" (from the beginning until now).
In Chinese addresses and descriptions, things go from large to small — from country to city to street to building. Similarly, 从 often follows this big-to-small logic: 从中国到北京到我们学校 (from China to Beijing to our school).
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
你从这儿走五分钟就到书店了。
Walk five minutes from here and you will reach the bookstore.
Giving directions
这路公交车从我们学校门口过。
This bus route passes by our school gate.
我从北京来。
I come from Beijing.
从早到晚他都在学习。
He studies from morning to night.
从我家到学校要半个小时。
It takes half an hour from my home to school.
她从明天开始上班。
She starts work from tomorrow.
我从他那儿借了一本书。
I borrowed a book from him.
从这个路口往左走。
Turn left from this intersection.
Combining 从 with 往
Common Mistakes
In Chinese, the prepositional phrase 从 + place comes BEFORE the verb, not after.
When marking a range, you need both 从 and 到: 从……到…… Not just 从 alone.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
The pattern 从……到…… is one of the most useful in Chinese. Practice with both places and times.
When giving directions, combine 从 with 往: 从这儿往右走 (from here, go right).
Remember that 从来 is special — 从来不 means "never" and 从来都 means "always."
Practice describing your commute: 我从家到公司，先坐地铁，再走五分钟。
Homework
Describe three routes you take regularly using 从 and 从……到……: your commute, a walk to a shop, and a trip to a friend's house. Include distances or times.