自從...之後

Ever Since

Level 4Sounds Like zi6 cung4 . . . zi1 hau6

Use 自從...之後 (zi6 cung4... zi1 hau6) to describe a situation that has been true from a specific past event until now.

How It Works

The pattern 自從...之後 (zi6 cung4... zi1 hau6) is the standard way to express 'ever since' in Cantonese. It functions as a circumposition, meaning it wraps around the starting point.

1. Structure and Optionality:
The full structure is: [自從] + [Time Point / Event] + [之後 / 以後 / 以來]. In colloquial Cantonese, the word 自從 is often optional. You can simply say [Event] + 之後 to mean 'since' or 'after'.

  • 之後 (zi1 hau6): The most common spoken form.
  • 以後 (ji5 hau6): Slightly more formal.
  • 以來 (ji5 loi4): Formal/Literary, emphasizing the entire duration 'from then until now'.

2. Subject Placement:
The subject of the sentence can be placed either before or after 自從. Both 佢自從搬咗屋之後... (keoi5 zi6 cung4 bun1 zo2 uk1 zi1 hau6...) and 自從佢搬咗屋之後... (zi6 cung4 keoi5 bun1 zo2 uk1 zi1 hau6...) are correct and natural.

3. Using with Events:
When the starting point is an action, the verb inside the bracket usually takes the perfective aspect marker 咗 (zo2) to show the event is completed. For example: 自從佢去咗日本之後... (Ever since he went to Japan...).

4. Temporal vs. Causal:
Unlike the English word 'since', which can mean 'because' (e.g., 'Since you're here, help me'), 自從 is only used for time. For 'because', use 因為 (jan1 wai6) or 既然 (gei3 jin4).

Examples (4)

  1. 自從佢搬咗屋之後，我哋就好少見面。

    Ever since he moved house, we have rarely seen each other.

    Word by Word: Ever-since he move [perfective] house after, we then very little see face.

    Here, the event 'moving house' is marked with 咗 (zo2) to show it is the completed starting point.

  2. 自從上次見面之後，你最近好唔好呀？

    How have you been since the last time we met?

    Word by Word: Ever-since last time see face after, you recently good [question]?

    This uses a noun phrase 'last meeting' as the starting point.

  3. 自從佢失業之後，成個人冇晒心機。

    Ever since he lost his job, he has been completely listless.

    Word by Word: Ever-since he lose-job after, whole person not-have all heart-machine.

    The phrase 冇晒心機 (mou5 saai3 sam1 gei1) describes the state that has persisted since the job loss.

  4. 自從舊年之後，我就冇再見過佢。

    I haven't seen him again since last year.

    Word by Word: Ever-since last-year after, I then not-have again see [experiential] him.

    This example uses a simple time point (last year) as the anchor.

Common Mistakes

  • Using '自從' to mean 'because'.

    自從落雨，我唔去街。
    因為落雨，我唔去街。

    自從 (zi6 cung4) is only for time. If you mean 'because it is raining', use 因為 (jan1 wai6).

  • Thinking 之後 must close every 自從 clause.

    Different Meaning自從佢去咗英國，佢好開心。
    自從佢去咗英國之後，佢好開心。

    自從佢去咗英國，佢好開心 is natural too. 自從 (zi6 cung4) already means 'since', so 之後 (zi1 hau6) is optional. Add it when you want to stress 'after he went'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

自從...之後Level 4Ever Since

Learn This First

To understand '自從...之後' (ever since), learners first need to be comfortable with the basic '...之後' (after) structure. This pattern adds '自從' at the beginning to create a formal 'bracket' that emphasizes the starting point of a duration. Knowledge of aspect markers like '咗' is also important because the event being referenced is typically completed or has already commenced.

Words in This Pattern

自从之后