～て（以来）

• Reading: て
• Romaji: te
• Formation: Verb て-form + (以来) + Ongoing state / Noun + 以来
• Kanji breakdown: 以来: 以 (from, since) + 来 (come) — literally 'coming from that point'

Meaning

Marks a point in time after which something has continued or from which a new state began. Equivalent to 'since' or 'after' in English.

This pattern uses the te-form of a verb to indicate that after a certain event occurred, something has been the case ever since. It emphasizes duration from a starting point up to now. While てから also means 'after,' て (in this temporal sense) focuses more on the ongoing state that resulted, whereas てから emphasizes the sequence of actions. Often used with 以来 (irai) for additional emphasis on the 'ever since' meaning. It commonly appears with expressions of time passing, ongoing states, and current conditions that trace back to a specific origin point.

Examples

1. 日本に来て、もう三年が経った。 Since coming to Japan, three years have already passed.
2. 大学を卒業して以来、一度も母校を訪れていない。 Since graduating from university, I haven't visited my alma mater even once.
3. あの映画を見て以来、ずっとその俳優のファンだ。 Ever since I saw that movie, I've been a fan of that actor.

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: reflective

Do Say

• この街に引っ越して、もう十年になる。
• 子供が生まれて以来、生活が大きく変わった。
• あの日けんかして以来、彼とは話していない。

Don't Say

• 朝ご飯を食べて以来、昼ご飯を食べた。(Using て以来 for a simple sequence — て以来 emphasizes an ongoing state since a past event, not just the next action) → 朝ご飯を食べてから、昼ご飯を食べた。
• 明日会議があって以来、準備する。(Using て以来 for a future event — it refers to a past starting point, not future plans) → 明日会議があるから、準備する。

Origin & History

The te-form inherently connects sequential events. When used temporally, it marks the first event as the origin point. 以来 (irai) literally means 'since that time,' combining 以 (from) and 来 (come), reinforcing the durational aspect.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal