「て以来」- Since... (Continuation from a Past Event)
Explanation
〜て以来 (teirai) is a Japanese grammatical structure used to express a continuous state or situation that has persisted since a specific event occurred. It is pronounced as 「ていらい」. In sentences, 〜て以来 is typically attached to the て-form of a verb, indicating the ongoing state since that event.
Grammar Pattern
| Grammar Point | Connection | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 〜て以来 | Verb て-form + 以来 | Indicates a continuous state or situation from a specific point in time or event up to the present. It is generally not used for events that just happened. |
Basic Usage
The basic structure of 〜て以来 is 「Verb て-form + 以来」, which expresses a continuous state or situation from a specific point in time or event up to the present. This structure emphasizes the ongoing nature of the state rather than a momentary action or change.
Examples
兄 は会社 に入 って以来、一度 も休 むことはありません。- Ani wa kaisha ni haitte irai, ichido mo yasumu koto wa arimasen.
- My brother hasn't taken a single day off since he joined the company.
親 とは家出 して以来、一度 も会 ってない。- Oya to wa iede shite irai, ichido mo attenai.
- I haven't seen my parents since I ran away from home.
フラれ て以来、ずっと落 ち込ん でいる。- Furarete irai, zutto ochikonde iru.
- I've been feeling down ever since I got dumped.
Deep Dive
〜て以来 is not only used to describe a simple continuous state from the past to the present but can also express more complex emotional or situational changes. It often implies a sustained emotion or state, emphasizing the changes since a particular event.
Examples
彼 は先月 海外 から帰 ってきて以来、ずっと黙 っている。- Kare wa sengetsu kaigai kara kaette kite irai, zutto damatte iru.
- He has been silent ever since he returned from abroad last month.
彼女 は結婚 して以来、性格 が大 きく変 わった。- Kanojo wa kekkon shite irai, seikaku ga ookiku kawatta.
- Her personality has changed significantly since she got married.
Comparison and Differences
In Japanese, there are similar expressions like 「〜てから」 and 「〜以来」. While they both indicate a state or situation after a specific point in time, there are subtle differences in usage.
| Expression | Explanation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜てから | Emphasizes the sequence after an action is completed, not necessarily a continuous state. | |
| 〜以来 | Indicates a continuous state or situation from a specific point in time or event up to the present. |
Real-Life Scenarios
To better understand the usage of 〜て以来, here are some practical examples in conversations and scenarios:
友達 から大学 の時 に借 りて以来、この本 はずっとうちの本棚 に置 かれている。- Tomodachi kara daigaku no toki ni karite irai, kono hon wa zutto uchi no hondana ni okarete iru.
- This book has been on my bookshelf ever since I borrowed it from a friend during university.
先月 定年退職 して以来、悠々自適 な生活 を送 っている。- Sengetsu teinen taishoku shite irai, yuuyuu jiteki na seikatsu o okutte iru.
- I've been living a leisurely life ever since I retired last month.
Summary
〜て以来 is used to express a continuous state or situation that has persisted since a specific event occurred, emphasizing the duration of the state. It is important to note that it is not suitable for events that just happened. This expression is widely used in both everyday conversations and writing.