Dictionary › 自从

自从

zì cóng

Old HSK 5 HSK 3.0 level 5 2-character word Traditional 自從

自从 (zì cóng) means "since (a specific time/event)". It is an HSK 3.0 level 5 word, and was HSK 5 in the old six-level list.

What 自从 means

1. since (a time)
2. ever since

How 自从 is used in grammar

自从 is a grammar word. Each link goes to its own section: what it does in that pattern, the structure, three example sentences with pinyin, and the mistake to avoid.

• Prepositions of Time & Place: 自从, 由, 从…起 (HSK 3)

The official HSK 3.0 grammar outline lists it at level 5, prepositions (引出时间、处所).

The characters in 自从

• 自zì(bound form) self; oneself; from; since; naturally; as a matter of course
• 从cóngfrom; through; via; (bound form) to follow; (bound form) to obey

Where 自从 is taught

In the GraphChinese course it is part of Expectation & Time Spans (HSK 5), each one a topic in the dependency graph of HSK 1–6 that opens only once its prerequisites are solid.

Go deeper

• Every HSK 5 word, with the rest of its level.
• The four tones and the neutral tone, to read zì cóng correctly.
• Look up another word in the free dictionary.