… 以来 (ever since)
IntroducedA period from graduation is not a list of nonstop work
- At the present point in an original conversation, graduation毕业since以来，I我all along一直very很busy忙。 describes being busy over the period since graduation. The graduation event sets the start; the current conversation supplies the endpoint.
- This ordinary description does not claim that every second contained work or that the speaker never slept. since以来 frames the period; the rest of the sentence says what happened within it.
You describe your workload from graduation to the present. What does 毕业以来，我一直很忙。 communicate?
The relevant period starts at graduation and extends to now. The reference endpoint may be the narrative present in a report. 以来 does not itself claim that every moment contained work.
Place since以来 after the time or event expression
- graduation毕业since以来 means since graduation in the modern use taught here. 三年since以来 refers to the period over the past three years, reaching the current reference point.
- The preceding expression can name an event, a date or a duration. since以来 is not an English-style preposition placed before graduation毕业. Read the whole time phrase before deciding where its period begins.
graduation毕业since以来，I我all along一直very很busy忙。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Since graduating, I've been busy: 毕业 ____，我一直很忙。
Time / Event + 以来 = ever since: 毕业以来,我一直很忙.
The predicate supplies frequency, not since以来 alone
- graduation毕业since以来，I我return回school学校three times三次(completed / change)了。 describes three returns during the period since graduation. It does not turn those returns into a continuous action.
- Compare graduation毕业since以来，I我all along一直very很busy忙。 The ongoing description comes from all along一直very很busy忙, while the counted events come from three times三次. The same period marker can frame different kinds of events or states.
graduation毕业since以来，I我return回school学校three times三次了。
In a conversation taking place now, 毕业以来 frames which period?
The event graduation is the start, and the current conversation supplies the reference endpoint. A dated report can have its own reference point.
In 毕业以来，我回学校三次了, how many returns to school are stated?
三次 supplies the count; 以来 supplies the period.
Separate since, after and before
- graduation毕业after以后，I我to move (i.e. relocate…搬to / arrive到(completed / change)了Shanghai municipality…上海。 locates a move after graduation; it does not itself describe a period continuing to now. graduation毕业since以来，I我return回school学校three times三次(completed / change)了。 counts returns across the since-period.
- graduation毕业before以前 concerns time before graduation. These forms can describe events in the same life story but give different time relationships. Do not substitute them merely because the nearby nouns match.
以来 attaches after the time / event.
Yes — 毕业以来, 长期以来.
以来 by itself means that an action occurred continuously at every moment.
以来 frames the period. 三次 can count separate events within it; 一直很忙 supplies an ongoing description in the opening example.
A dated report supplies its own present
- A report written in 2024 says 2020grain年since以来，school学校to open (transitive or…开(completed / change)了Sanmen county in Taizhou…三门新课。 Its count reaches the report’s reference point, not automatically the day you read it in 2026.
- When updating that report, check later course openings before repeating the count. since以来 does not silently update the evidence, just as a printed timetable cannot notice that you missed the bus.
A report written in 2024 counts courses opened since 2020. You read it in 2026. What needs checking before updating its count?
The dated report’s evidence ends at its reference point. Later changes need new information.
Transfer the period while preserving the count
- Original statement: this这个moon月since以来，I我to read out读(completed / change)了两本书。 frames two books read during the period since this month began. It does not claim two books every day or identify the titles without further information.
- Meaning reference: Ministry of Education concise dictionary: since (a previous event)以來. Our dates, counts and examples are original teaching cases. See the unit reference.
- Read start, reference endpoint and predicate separately; the period marker does not supply a frequency or a new current count.
Match each time phrase to its taught relation.
The event word is shared, but the time relation differs.
Recall the situation: A period from graduation is not a list of nonstop work. Decide what the speaker wanted to communicate. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.