自从
How to Understand
自从 is an adverb meaning 'since' or 'from the time of.' It indicates the starting point of a continuous action or state, often used in conjunction with present perfect or continuous tenses in English.
The character 自 (zì) means 'self' or 'since,' while 从 (cóng) means 'from' or 'to follow.' Together, they form a compound that literally translates to 'since' or 'from the time of,' emphasizing the beginning of an ongoing situation.
自从 is commonly used in daily conversations to express when something started. For example, it can be used in sentences like 'I have lived here since 2015.' In Chinese, it often appears at the beginning of a sentence to highlight the starting point of an action or condition. It's important to pair it with appropriate verbs or clauses to show continuity.