Meaning of 自从
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- since (a time)
- ever since
How to use 自从
自从 introduces a past starting point, and the main clause usually describes a change or a state that has continued since then. It often pairs with 以后 (yǐhòu) or 以来 (yǐlái). Example: 自从搬到北京以后，他每天骑自行车上班。 (Zìcóng bān dào Běijīng yǐhòu, tā měitiān qí zìxíngchē shàngbān.) Ever since moving to Beijing, he has ridden a bike to work every day.
Both halves mean "from": 自 (zì) is "from" as in 来自 (láizì), and 从 (cóng) is "from" as in 从小 (cóngxiǎo). Doubling "from" makes it "ever since" a point in time.
Common mistake: Learners use 自从 for future or place starting points, but it only works for past times. For places or the future, use 从 (cóng), as in 从明天开始 (cóng míngtiān kāishǐ), not 自从明天.
自从 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
自 zì · self · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
从 cóng · from · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 自从.
| 自己 | zìjǐ | oneself; (attributive) one's own |
| 自由 | zìyóu | freedom; liberty; free; unrestricted |
| 来自 | láizì | to come from (a place); From: (in email header) |
| 从小 | cóngxiǎo | from childhood; from a young age |
| 自行车 | zìxíngchē | bicycle; bike |
| 大自然 | dàzìrán | nature (the natural world) |
| 从来 | cónglái | always; at all times |
| 自然 | zìrán | nature; natural |
| 亲自 | qīnzì | personally; in person |
| 从前 | cóngqián | previously; formerly |
| 自动 | zìdòng | automatic; voluntarily |
| 各自 | gèzì | each; respective |
Questions about 自从
What does 自从 mean?
自从 (zìcóng) means "since (a time); ever since" and is used as a preposition.
How do you write 自从?
自从 is made of 2 characters: 自 (6 strokes), 从 (4 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 自从 an HSK word?
Yes. 自从 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 自从 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 自从 is written 自從.
What is the difference between 自从 and 从?
从 can mark a starting point in time, place, or range, including the future. 自从 only marks a past point in time and stresses that something has been true since then.
Can 自从 go after the subject?
It usually starts the sentence, before the subject, as in 自从他来了，… Putting it after the subject is possible but sounds less natural in everyday speech.