Prepositions of Time & Place: 自从, 由, 从…起
These three prepositions all relate to starting points but differ in nuance.
自从 = ever since (past reference with continuing effect): 自从我来中国，我每天说汉语。
由 = from / by (starting point or formal agent): 由北京到上海；会议由他主持。
从…起 = starting from X onward (a specific time/place as launchpad): 从明天起，我每天跑步。
Contrast: 从 is neutral (from); 自从 implies ongoing change since then; 从…起 marks a deliberate new start. 由 is the most formal and can also introduce an agent.
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 自从他开始学汉语，每天都很努力。 | Zì cóng tā kāi shǐ xué Hàn yǔ, měi tiān dōu hěn nǔ lì. | Ever since he started learning Chinese, he has worked hard every day. | 自从 = ever since; implies a continuing effect from that past moment |
| 由上海到北京，坐高铁要五个多小时。 | Yóu Shàng hǎi dào Běi jīng, zuò gāo tiě yào wǔ gè duō xiǎo shí. | From Shanghai to Beijing, it takes more than five hours by high-speed train. | 由…到 = from X to Y; marks the starting and ending point |
| 从下个月起，公司规定不能在办公室吃东西。 | Cóng xià gè yuè qǐ, gōng sī guī dìng bù néng zài bàn gōng shì chī dōng xi. | Starting from next month, the company rules that eating in the office is not allowed. | 从…起 marks a specific new policy start point |
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