Prepositions of Time & Place: 自从, 由, 从…起
Prepositions of time and place mark where or when something starts. At HSK 3 this point covers 自从 (ever since), 由 (from, or by whom) and the frame 从…起 (starting from), which are common in rules and plans.
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 |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
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.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 5, prepositions (引出时间、处所).
由 (yóu)
Marks who does something or the place it starts from.
Structure: 由 + person (doer) / place + verb
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 今天的晚饭由我来做。 | Jīn tiān de wǎn fàn yóu wǒ lái zuò. | Tonight's dinner will be cooked by me. |
| 这次会议由经理主持。 | Zhè cì huì yì yóu jīng lǐ zhǔ chí. | The manager will chair this meeting. |
| 由这里往东走，就是火车站。 | Yóu zhè lǐ wǎng dōng zǒu, jiù shì huǒ chē zhàn. | Go east from here and you reach the train station. |
Not: 晚饭我由来做。 由 stands directly before the doer: 由我来做.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, prepositions (引出施事、受事); level 4, prepositions (引出时间、处所).
由 is also explained in: Agent Prepositions: 将、由 (HSK 5).
从…起 (cóng … qǐ)
Marks the time from which something starts, often for rules and plans.
Structure: 从 + time + 起 + clause
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 从明天起，我每天早上跑步。 | Cóng míng tiān qǐ, wǒ měi tiān zǎo shàng pǎo bù. | From tomorrow I will go running every morning. |
| 从今年起，学校不让学生带手机。 | Cóng jīn nián qǐ, xué xiào bú ràng xué shēng dài shǒu jī. | From this year the school does not let students bring phones. |
| 从三月起，这家店晚上九点关门。 | Cóng sān yuè qǐ, zhè jiā diàn wǎn shàng jiǔ diǎn guān mén. | From March this shop closes at nine in the evening. |
Not: 我起从明天开始上班。 从 goes before the time and 起 after it: 从明天起.
Compared side by side: 从 vs 自从.
What you need first
Every topic in GraphChinese names its own prerequisites, and these are the grammar points this one is built on. If a sentence here will not parse, one of them is why.
Questions about Prepositions of Time & Place
What does 时间处所介词 (Prepositions of Time & Place) mean in Chinese?
Prepositions of time and place mark where or when something starts. At HSK 3 this point covers 自从 (ever since), 由 (from, or by whom) and the frame 从…起 (starting from), which are common in rules and plans. It is an HSK 3 grammar point.
How do you use 时间处所介词 (Prepositions of Time & Place) in a sentence?
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.
What do you need to know before 时间处所介词 (Prepositions of Time & Place)?
Time Expressions as Adverbials (HSK 1), Directional Prepositions (HSK 2). This pattern is built out of them, so a sentence here that will not parse usually means one of them has not landed yet.
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.
Is 从…起 the same as 从…开始?
They mean almost the same. 起 is a bit more formal and is common in announcements and rules, such as 从明天起放假.
Prepositions of Time & Place is one topic of 829. GraphChinese teaches them in prerequisite order, so this pattern reaches you on the day everything it rests on is proven. The whole course, HSK 0 through HSK 6, is $49 once for lifetime access.
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