Meaning & Usage
✨ Basic Meaning
「て以来」means “since,” “ever since,” or “from that time onward.” It indicates that a certain state or action has continued uninterruptedly from a specific past event.
🎯 Primary Function
Its primary function is to indicate a continuous state or ongoing action that began at a particular past event and has continued up to the present or another specified point in time.
📋 Grammar Structure
Verb Te-form + 以来
(例: 会う → 会って以来, 来る → 来て以来, 辞める → 辞めて以来)
🎭 Usage Contexts
Formal Situations
Highly appropriate in formal speeches, presentations, and academic discussions.
Informal Situations
Less common in very casual, informal conversations, but can be used depending on context.
Written Language
Frequently used in written Japanese, such as articles, reports, essays, and formal letters.
Spoken Language
Used in spoken Japanese, particularly in more formal or reflective contexts.
💡 Common Applications
Describing Personal History/Long-term Situations
Used to talk about a continuous situation or change in one’s life since a significant event.
Example: 日本に来て以来、和食ばかり食べています。(Nihon ni kite irai, washoku bakari tabete imasu.) – Since coming to Japan, I’ve been eating only Japanese food.
Highlighting a Turning Point
Emphasizes that a specific event marked a turning point, after which something continued to be different.
Example: あの事故以来、彼は車の運転をしていません。(Ano jiko irai, kare wa kuruma no unten o shiteimasen.) – Since that accident, he hasn’t driven a car.
Expressing Continuous Action/State
Used to show that an action or state has been ongoing since a certain past action was completed.
Example: スマートフォンを手に入れて以来、生活が便利になった。(Sumātofon o te ni irete irai, seikatsu ga benri ni natta.) – Since getting a smartphone, life has become convenient.
Frequency
Moderately frequent in advanced Japanese (JLPT N2 level) materials and daily life, especially in contexts that require a slightly formal or reflective tone.
Difficulty
Moderate. While the basic meaning is clear, distinguishing its nuanced usage from similar grammar points like 〜てから (te kara) can be challenging.
Example Sentences
彼女に会って以来、毎日が楽しい。
Ever since I met her, every day has been fun.
日本に来て以来、和食ばかり食べています。
Since coming to Japan, I’ve been eating only Japanese food.
あの事故以来、彼は車の運転をしていません。
Since that accident, he hasn’t driven a car.
Notes & Nuances
📌 Important Points
Continuation of State/Action
The key characteristic of 「て以来」 is that the state or action described in the second clause has been continuously true or ongoing since the event mentioned in the first clause.
Example: 卒業して以来、彼とは連絡を取っていません。(Sotsugyō shite irai, kare to wa renraku o totteimasen.) – Ever since graduating, I haven’t been in contact with him (implying continuous lack of contact).
Specific Past Event as Starting Point
The event preceding 「て以来」 must be a distinct, completed action in the past. It serves as a fixed starting point for the continuous state or action that follows.
Example: この薬を飲み始めて以来、体調が良くなりました。(Kono kusuri o nomihajimete irai, taichō ga yoku narimashita.) – Since I started taking this medicine, my physical condition has improved.
⚠️ Common Mistakes
❌ Using 「てから」 instead of 「て以来」 when continuity is implied.
✅ Use 「て以来」 when emphasizing a continuous state or action that has persisted since a past event.
While 「てから」 simply means “after doing X, Y happened,” 「て以来」 specifically means “ever since X happened, Y has been continuing.” For instance, 「ご飯を食べてから寝た」 (I slept after eating) is a sequence, but 「あの映画を見て以来、彼女はSFに夢中だ」 (Ever since watching that movie, she’s been crazy about sci-fi) implies a continuous state of being crazy about SF.
❌ Using 「て以来」 for short-term or temporary effects.
✅ Reserve 「て以来」 for situations that imply a long-lasting or significant effect/continuation.
「て以来」 implies a relatively long period of time or a permanent change. For temporary effects, other expressions like 「〜てから」 or just sequencing clauses are more natural.
🏛️ Cultural Context
Politeness Level: Generally neutral to slightly formal. It does not inherently add politeness but fits well in more structured or descriptive speech and writing.
Social Situations: Suitable for various social situations where describing a continuous state since a past event is relevant, from personal anecdotes to formal reports. It sounds more considered than casual.
Regional Variations: The usage of 「て以来」 is standard across Japan with no significant regional variations in its meaning or application.
🔍 Subtle Differences
て以来 (Te Irai) vs. てから (Te Kara)
「て以来」 emphasizes a continuous state or action that has persisted *since* a specific past event. 「てから」 simply indicates a chronological sequence, meaning “after doing X, Y happened,” without necessarily implying continuity.
When to use: Use 「て以来」 when the primary focus is on the ongoing nature of an event or state from a past point. Use 「てから」 for simple sequential actions or when the continuity is not the main emphasis.
て以来 (Verb Te-form + Irai) vs. 以来 (Noun + Irai)
The grammar pattern being discussed is “Verb Te-form + 以来,” which specifically links a continuous state to a past *action*. There is also a related pattern “Noun + 以来” (e.g., 昨年以来 – since last year) which links to a point in *time* or a *noun event*. While similar in meaning (“since”), their grammatical connection is different.
When to use: Use 「て以来」 when the starting point is a verb’s action. Use 「Noun + 以来」 when the starting point is a specific noun or a time-related noun.
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📝 Conjugation Notes
Always attach 「以来」 to the Te-form of a verb. There are no other conjugation patterns for this grammar point.
🔊 Pronunciation Tips
The “い” in 「以来」 (irai) is pronounced like the “ee” in “see,” and “らい” is pronounced like “rye.” The phrase flows smoothly after the Te-form of the verb.
🧠 Memory Tips
Think of 「て以来」 as “Te-form + *i*rai = *i*t has been continuing *s*ince (i.e., Ever Since).” The “i” sound can remind you of “in continuity” or “indefinitely since.”
Vocabulary List
会う
au
to meet
毎日
mainichi
every day
楽しい
tanoshii
fun, enjoyable
日本
Nihon
Japan
来る
kuru
to come
和食
washoku
Japanese food
食べる
to eat
Kanji List
会
あ(う)
to meet
毎
まい
every
日
にち, ひ
day, sun
楽
たの(しい)
enjoyable, comfort
日
に
sun, day, Japan
本
ほん
book, origin, main
来
く(る)
to come
和
わ
harmony, Japanese style
食
しょく, た(べる)
food, eat
事
じ, こと
matter, thing, fact
故
こ
accident, fault
Practice Exercises
毎日運動を始めて以来、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
A. 体調が良いです
B. 体調が悪いです
C. 体調を崩しました
D. 運動をやめました
彼は海外留学から帰国して以来、＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿。
A. 日本語を勉強し始めました
B. 英語を話すのをやめました
C. 積極的に国際交流に参加しています
D. ずっと家にいます
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