起初…，后来…
at first …, later …; at first …, only later …
Structure
起初 最初的情况 ， 后来 变化 ／ （主语） 后来才 变化
What it means
Tells a story in two stages: how things were at the start, then what changed.
How it is built
起初 + first situation，后来 (+ 才) + change: 这家公司起初只有三个人，后来发展成了大企业 (the firm started with three people and later grew big). 后来才… when the change came late or slowly.
When to use it
A narrative time word, a little written; in speech say 一开始 or 刚开始. 最初 easily goes before a noun (最初的想法); 当初 looks back at a past decision, often with regret: 早知今日，何必当初.
Watch out
Only for the past, never for plans: ✗ 下个月我们起初去北京，后来去上海。 ✓ 下个月我们先去北京，然后去上海。
Examples
起初，人们只把佛当作一位外国神仙，后来才慢慢明白佛教讲的是什么。
At first people took the Buddha for just another immortal from abroad; only later did they slowly come to understand what Buddhism taught.
起初他只是想学几句中文，后来干脆来北京读了研究生。
At first he just wanted to learn a few phrases of Chinese; later he went the whole way and came to Beijing for a master’s.
这家公司起初只有三个人，后来发展成了上千人的大企业。
The company started with three people and later grew into a firm of over a thousand.
Learn this in Lesson 90 · HSK 6–7: 佛教来到中国 (How Buddhism became Chinese)
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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