Chinese grammar: Comparing 以后yihou and 后来houlai

While both 以后 (yǐhòu) and 后来 (hòulái) can mean "after," they have distinct uses.

以后 is used for the future in general

以后 is used when talking about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future.

Structure

Examples

Tā yǐ hòu bú xiǎnɡ zhù zài rì běn.
他以后不想住在日本。

He doesn't want to live in Japan later.

以后 is used for things occurring after a specific time

以后 can be used to describe actions or events that occur after a specific time (and the time must be given).
Structure

Note that the time can be specific (like a date or time) or broad (like an event, action, or occurrence).

Examples

Liǎnɡ ɡè xīnɡ qī yǐ hòu ， wǒ yào huí měi ɡuó。
两个星期以后，我要回美国。

After two weeks, I'm going to return to America.

后来 is used for sequencing past events

后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word "afterward".

Strucure

Examples

Qù nián wǒ men fēn shǒu le ， hòu lái zài yě méi jiàn ɡuò tā.
去年我们分手了，后来再也没见过她。

We broke up last year, after that, I never saw her again.

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