以来 (yǐ lái) — since in Mandarin
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#502 most common word · HSK 5 · CEFR B2
Pinyin colour key: tone 1 (high flat), tone 2 (rising), tone 3 (dipping), tone 4 (falling), neutral.
Tone breakdown
以来 is pronounced yǐ lái. Tap any syllable’s row to hear the whole word.
In a sentence
zìcóng tā lái Zhōngguó yǐlái, xuéhuìle shuō Hànyǔ。
Since he came to China, he has learned to speak Chinese.
Hear it, then say it right
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Start freeFrequently asked questions
What does 以来 mean?+
以来 (yǐ lái) means "since" in Mandarin Chinese.
How do you pronounce 以来?+
以来 is pronounced yǐ lái. It uses the tone 3 (rising/dipping), then the tone 2 (rising). Tap the character on this page to hear native audio.
How common is 以来 in Mandarin?+
以来 is the #502 most frequent word in spoken Mandarin, so it is one of the first words worth learning.
Where 以来 fits
Every HSK 5 word with tone-coloured pinyin and audio.
Words at a similar frequency
Master the tones first
What each tone sounds like and why it matters.
Why some tones change in connected speech.
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