From Then On: ……，此后……
……，此后……
Use 此后 to connect a past event with everything that followed it, expressing "after that" or "from then on"
此后 (cǐhòu) means "after that" or "from then on." It connects a past event in the first clause with the situation that followed in the second clause. It indicates a clear chronological sequence where the first event serves as a turning point.
此后 is formal and literary. In spoken Chinese, people more commonly say 从那以后 or 后来. 此后 is frequently found in narratives, historical accounts, biographies, and formal writing. It can begin the second clause or follow the subject.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: From Then On: ……，此后…… (……，此后……)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the ……，此后…… pattern
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Understanding ……，此后……
The connector 此后 literally means "after this" (此 = this, 后 = after) and functions as a formal time adverb that links two sequential events. It is used to mark a turning point: something happened, and from that point onward, the situation changed or continued in a new way. Unlike the more casual 后来 (later) or 然后 (and then), 此后 carries a sense of finality and weight — it suggests that the first event was significant enough to define everything that came after. You will encounter 此后 extensively in written narratives, historical texts, news articles, and biographical accounts. Learning to use it well gives your Chinese a polished, literary quality.
Key Points
- 此后 means "after that / from then on" and marks a chronological turning point.
- It is significantly more formal than 后来, 然后, or 从那以后.
- The first clause establishes the key event; the second clause (with 此后) describes what followed.
- Often implies the first event was a significant turning point that shaped subsequent events.
- Can be placed at the beginning of the second clause or after the subject.
- Very common in written narratives, biographies, historical accounts, and journalism.
Chinese narrative tradition places great emphasis on pivotal moments (转折点) that define a person's life or a nation's history. Using 此后 signals to the reader that you are marking such a moment, making it a powerful storytelling tool in Chinese.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
我们二十年前见过一面，此后就再也没有见过。
We met once twenty years ago, and after that we never saw each other again.
Emphasizes permanent separation
自二十岁离开家乡，此后他就从未回去过。
He left his hometown at twenty, and from then on he never went back.
那次失败让他深刻反思，此后他变得更加谨慎。
That failure made him reflect deeply, and after that he became much more cautious.
公司在2010年上市，此后业务迅速扩展到全球。
The company went public in 2010, and from then on its business rapidly expanded worldwide.
他在大学期间发表了第一篇论文，此后便走上了学术研究的道路。
He published his first paper during university, and from then on he embarked on the path of academic research.
两国在1972年建交，此后双方在经贸领域展开了广泛合作。
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972, and from then on both sides carried out extensive cooperation in trade.
Formal/historical register
Common Mistakes
此后 is used for significant turning points and formal narratives, not trivial daily sequences. For casual daily events, use 后来 or 然后 instead.
此后 refers back to a past event and describes what followed. It cannot be combined with future time words like 明天. It must reference a prior event as its anchor point.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
Reserve 此后 for significant events and turning points — it sounds odd with trivial daily actions.
Pair 此后 with emphatic adverbs like 就, 便, 再也没, or 从未 to reinforce the sense of finality.
In spoken Chinese, 从那以后 is a more natural choice. Save 此后 for writing and formal speech.
When telling stories or writing biographies, 此后 is an excellent transition word between the pivotal event and its aftermath.
Homework
Write a short biographical paragraph (5-6 sentences) about a real or fictional person. Use 此后 at least twice to mark turning points in their life. Include at least one instance where 此后 introduces a permanent change.