Meaning
Vて以来 / N以来 means “since A.” B is usually a state or habit continuing from a past event to the present or another narrative reference point. It is more formal than てから. A common additional pattern is 以来初めて, “for the first time since.”
Formation
- Vて＋以来: 引っ越して → 引っ越して以来; 入社して → 入社して以来
- N (event or point in time)＋以来: 卒業 → 卒業以来; 一月 → 一月以来; あの事故 → あの事故以来
- それ＋以来, 'since then' — それ以来、毎朝…
When to use it
- Where to use it
- For something that changed at a past event and is still true: 日本に来て以来、ずっと…, 卒業以来、一度も会っていない. Common with ずっと, 一度も～ない and ～ようになった.
- Where not to use it
- It does not express a simple sequence of two isolated actions: 日本に来てから、富士山に登った. Patterns such as 卒業以来初めて彼に会った are an exception to the learner rule that B must continue. The starting point is normally past; use てから for future plans. No の follows N.
Examples
20 sentences-
日本に来て以来、ずっとこのアパートに住んでいる。
I've lived in this apartment ever since I came to Japan.
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卒業以来、彼とは一度も会っていない。
I haven't seen him once since graduation.
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手術以来、祖父はお酒を一滴も飲んでいません。
Since his operation, my grandfather hasn't had a single drop of alcohol.
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あの事故以来、夜に車を運転するのが怖い。
Ever since that accident, I've been scared of driving at night.
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それ以来、毎朝天気予報を見るようにしている。
Since then, I've made a point of checking the weather forecast every morning.
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入社して以来、毎日残業が続いています。
Ever since I joined the company, I've been working overtime every day.
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引っ越して以来、ずっと一人で暮らしているんですか？
Have you been living alone ever since you moved?
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ギターを始めて以来、週末は練習ばかりしている。
Ever since I took up the guitar, I spend my weekends doing nothing but practicing.
12 more examples
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今年の一月以来、ガソリンの値段が上がり続けている。
Gas prices have kept rising since January this year.
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彼女と別れて以来、兄は元気がない。
My brother has been down ever since he broke up with his girlfriend.
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東京に出てきて以来、実家に帰っていない。
I haven't been back to my parents' place since I moved to Tokyo.
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父の退院以来、初めて家族で旅行に行った。
For the first time since Dad got out of the hospital, we went on a family trip.
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去年の夏以来、毎朝ジョギングを続けている。
Since last summer, I've been jogging every morning.
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会社を辞めて以来、彼から連絡はありましたか？
Have you heard from him since he left the company?
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禁煙して以来、体の調子がとてもいい。
Ever since I quit smoking, I've been feeling great.
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それ以来、生の魚が食べられなくなった。
Since then, I haven't been able to eat raw fish.
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新しいシステムを入れて以来、ミスがほとんどなくなりました。
Since we brought in the new system, mistakes have almost disappeared.
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震災以来、この町の人口は減り続けている。
Since the earthquake disaster, this town's population has kept shrinking.
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犬を飼い始めて以来、毎日一時間は歩いている。
Since I got a dog, I've been walking at least an hour every day.
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子どもが生まれて以来、映画館に行っていない。
I haven't been to a movie theater since our child was born.
Important notes
- B normally continues to the speaking or narrative reference point: ～ている, ～ていない, ずっと. 卒業以来初めて彼に会った means “I met him for the first time since graduation,” a single meeting after a gap.
- 以来 usually counts from a notable turning point: a move, graduation, an accident, starting a job. In casual speech, てから（ずっと） often does the same job.
Common mistakes
- ✗ 日本に来た以来、ずっと東京に住んでいる。 → ✓ 日本に来て以来、ずっと東京に住んでいる。 — use the て form, not the た form.
- ✗ 卒業の以来、彼に会っていない。 → ✓ 卒業以来、彼に会っていない。 — no の between a noun and 以来.
- ✗ 大学に入って以来、留学した。 → ✓ 大学に入ってから、留学した。 — a simple sequence uses てから; distinguish this from the separate 以来初めて pattern.
Check yourself
Pick the translation of each sentence. The wrong options translate similar patterns, so watch the grammar rather than the words.
Similar grammar
- 〜てからてから allows a simple sequence or plan; 以来 normally establishes an interval from a past event to a reference point. 以来初めて means “for the first time since.”
- 〜からNから is neutral “from/since,” including future starting points; N以来 normally starts from a past event and is more formal.
- それからそれから means 'and then, next'; それ以来 means 'ever since then' (and still now).
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