从…起 · 自从
from (a time) on · ever since (something happened)
Structure
从 + 时间 + 起 ，…… · 自从 + 时间／事情 （+ 以后） ，……
What it means
从 + time + 起 means “from (a time) on”: something starts then and carries on. 自从 means “ever since”: it looks back to something that happened in the past.
How it is built
从 + time + 起，……: 从今天起，我每天早上都去跑步 (from today on, I’m going running every morning). 自从 + past event (+ 以后)，(subject +) 就……: 自从来了北京，他就很少回家乡了.
When to use it
从…起 works with past or future starting points: 从明天起, 从那年起. 自从 only looks back: “ever since” something happened, often with 以后 after the event and 就 in the next part: 自从有了孩子以后，她就不常出门了.
Watch out
自从 never looks forward: ✗ 自从明天起 ✓ 从明天起. Don’t drop 起 after the time: ✗ 从今天，我每天跑步。 ✓ 从今天起，我每天跑步。
Examples
从今天起，我每天早上都去跑步。
From today on, I’m going running every morning.
自从来了北京，他就很少回家乡了。
Ever since he came to Beijing, he has hardly been home.
自从有了孩子以后，她就不常出门了。
Since she had a baby, she hasn’t gone out much.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 12: 我的家乡 (Hometown)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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