Chinese–EnglishWith examples

自从

zì cóng · zi cong

Traditional 自從

HSK 3Old HSK 5

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. since (a time)
  2. ever since
Embed this word

Put this word on your class page or blog. Keep the link under the frame, so people can find the word. More widgets

In a conversation

0:24 cartoon

Since I started running

  1. Dengdeng

    你(nǐ)最近(zuìjìn)怎么(zěnme)起(qǐ)得(de)这么(zhème)早(zǎo)？

    Why are you up so early lately?

  2. Liangliang

    自从(zìcóng)我(wǒ)开始(kāishǐ)跑步(pǎobù)，每天(měitiān)六点(liùdiǎn)就(jiù)起床(qǐchuáng)。

    Since I started running, I get up at six every day.

  3. Dengdeng

    自从(zìcóng)你(nǐ)开始(kāishǐ)跑步(pǎobù)，我(wǒ)就(jiù)没(méi)见过(jiànguò)你(nǐ)睡懒觉(shuìlǎnjiào)。

    Since you started running, I have not seen you sleep in.

  4. Liangliang

    自从(zìcóng)跑步(pǎobù)以后(yǐhòu)，我(wǒ)觉得(juéde)吃(chī)得(de)更(gèng)多(duō)了(le)。

    Since I started running, I feel I eat more.

  5. Dengdeng

    那(nà)你(nǐ)是(shì)为了(wèile)早饭(zǎofàn)才(cái)跑步(pǎobù)吧(ba)？

    So you run for breakfast, right?

  6. Liangliang

    对(duì)！自从(zìcóng)我(wǒ)知道(zhīdào)早饭店(zǎofàndiàn)六点(liùdiǎn)开门(kāimén)，我(wǒ)就(jiù)跑(pǎo)得(de)更(gèng)快(kuài)了(le)。

    Yes! Since I learned the breakfast shop opens at six, I run faster.

Tap a word for its meaning in this line. The characters’ voices are computer-generated.

In a sentence

2 examples
01

自(zì)从(cóng)手(shǒu)术(shù)后(hòu)，我(wǒ)父(fù)亲(qīn)一(yì)直(zhí)处(chǔ)于(yú)良(liáng)好(hǎo)的(de)状(zhuàng)态(tài)。

My father has been in good shape since his operation.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by CM · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

自(zì)从(cóng)搬(bān)到(dào)这(zhè)个(ge)城(chéng)市(shì)，她(tā)就(jiù)很(hěn)少(shǎo)回(huí)老(lǎo)家(jiā)了(le)。

Since moving to this city, she has rarely returned to her hometown.

Sources & licenses

How to write

Choose a character to watch its strokes or trace it yourself.

Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
自
zì

(bound form) self; oneself; from; since

从
cóng

from; through; via; (bound form) to follow

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with ZExplore words in context