从 vs 自从: what is the difference?
从 is a general "from" for places and times. 自从 only looks back at a past start and means "ever since". 自从毕业，我一直在上海 is correct, but you cannot use it for a future date.
| Word | Pinyin | What it does | Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 从 | cóng | A general 'from' for places and times, which can point to the past, present or future. | 从 + Place / Time + Verb |
| 自从 | zì cóng | Marks a starting point in the past and the time since then. | 自从 + past event / time, (就) + result |
从 (cóng)
A general 'from' for places and times, which can point to the past, present or future.
Structure: 从 + Place / Time + Verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我从北京坐火车去上海。 | Wǒ cóng běi jīng zuò huǒ chē qù shàng hǎi. | I take the train from Beijing to Shanghai. |
| 从明天开始，我每天早上跑步。 | Cóng míng tiān kāi shǐ, wǒ měi tiān zǎo shàng pǎo bù. | From tomorrow I will run every morning. |
| 我从家走到公司要二十分钟。 | Wǒ cóng jiā zǒu dào gōng sī yào èr shí fēn zhōng. | It takes me twenty minutes to walk from home to work. |
Not: 从毕业，我一直在北京工作。 For 'ever since' a past event, use 自从: 自从毕业，我一直在北京工作。
自从 (zì cóng)
Marks a starting point in the past and the time since then.
Structure: 自从 + past event / time, (就) + result
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 自从搬到北京，我就没回过家。 | Zì cóng bān dào běi jīng, wǒ jiù méi huí guò jiā. | Since moving to Beijing I have not been home. |
| 自从有了手机，写信的人越来越少了。 | Zì cóng yǒu le shǒu jī, xiě xìn de rén yuè lái yuè shǎo le. | Since phones came along, fewer and fewer people write letters. |
| 自从上个月开始，他每天都去跑步。 | Zì cóng shàng gè yuè kāi shǐ, tā měi tiān dōu qù pǎo bù. | Since last month he has gone running every day. |
Not: 自从明天，我要努力学习。 自从 looks back to the past; for the future use 从…起.
Where this comes from
The comparison is part of Prepositions of Time & Place: 自从, 由, 从…起 (HSK 3) in the grammar reference, which has the full explanation, more worked examples, and what to learn before and after it.
More pairs: 才 vs 就 · 朝 vs 向 · 大概 vs 恐怕 · 得很 vs 极了 · 光 vs 只 · 互相 vs 相互 · 叫 vs 让 · 每 vs 各 · 听不懂 vs 没听懂 · 需要 vs 要 · 因为 vs 为了 · 只有…才 vs 只要…就 · all 81 pairs.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 从 and 自从?
从 is a general "from" for places and times. 自从 only looks back at a past start and means "ever since". 自从毕业，我一直在上海 is correct, but you cannot use it for a future date.
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