N2Grammar

以来(いらい)

Since, Henceforth

Structure

Verb［て］+ 以来(いらい)
Noun + 以来(いらい)
それ⁽¹⁾ + 以来(いらい)

⁽¹⁾ これ、あれ

Explanation

The grammar pattern 以来(いらい), meaning 'ever since', attaches to the て-form of a verb or a noun. It is used to show that a certain state or action (B) has continued without stopping since a particular starting point (A). It can be translated as 'since', 'ever since', or 'from that point on'.

先月(せんげつ)ジョギングを始(はじ)めて以来(いらい)、体(からだ)がずっと軽(かる)い。
Ever since I started jogging last month, my body has felt much lighter.
猫(ねこ)を飼(か)い始(はじ)めて以来(いらい)、毎日(まいにち)早起(はやお)きになった。
I've become an early riser ever since I got a cat.
元気(げんき)？去年(きょねん)の出張(しゅっちょう)以来(いらい)だね。
How've you been? It's been since that business trip last year, hasn't it?
昇進(しょうしん)以来(いらい)、毎日(まいにち)非常(ひじょう)に忙(いそが)しいです。
Ever since my promotion, I've been incredibly busy every day.

A core feature of 以来(いらい) is its emphasis on a continuous condition. This implies that the situation (B) is expected to persist indefinitely unless some other event causes it to change.

Caution

In some instances, 以来(いらい) can be used to count how many times an event (B) has taken place since a point in time (A). While similar in meaning to 'since', this usage adds emphasis to the total number of occurrences, often expressing surprise at how large or small that number is in a way that using から would not.

一人暮(ひとりぐ)らしを始(はじ)めて以来(いらい)、もう１０(じゅう)年(ねん)になる。
It's already been ten years since I started living by myself.
この高(たか)いコートを買(か)って以来(いらい)、まだ２(に)回(かい)しか着(き)ていない。
I've only worn this expensive coat twice since I bought it.

Examples

この犬(いぬ)を飼(か)い始(はじ)めて以来(いらい)、家(いえ)の中(なか)が明(あか)るくなった。

Since I started keeping this dog, our house has become much livelier.

日本(にほん)に来(き)て以来(いらい)、まだ一度(いちど)も国(くに)に帰(かえ)っていない。

Since coming to Japan, I haven't been back to my home country even once.

彼女(かのじょ)とけんかして以来(いらい)、口(くち)をきいていない。

Since our fight, we haven't been on speaking terms.

この町(まち)に引(ひ)っ越(こ)して以来(いらい)、車(くるま)が必要(ひつよう)なくなった。

Since moving to this town, I haven't needed a car.

新(あたら)しい部長(ぶちょう)が着任(ちゃくにん)して以来(いらい)、部署(ぶしょ)の雰囲気(ふんいき)が良(よ)くなった。

The atmosphere in the department has improved since the new manager started.

事故(じこ)で入院(にゅういん)して以来(いらい)、お酒(さけ)を一切(いっさい)飲(の)んでいない。

Since being hospitalized after the accident, I haven't touched a drop of alcohol.

この会社(かいしゃ)に入社(にゅうしゃ)して以来(いらい)、一度(いちど)も休(やす)んだことがない。

I haven't taken a single day off since joining this company.

去年(きょねん)の夏(なつ)、沖縄(おきなわ)に行(い)った。それ以来(いらい)、旅行(りょこう)にハマっている。

I went to Okinawa last summer. Since then, I've been hooked on traveling.

彼(かれ)と出会(であ)って以来(いらい)、私(わたし)の人生(じんせい)は大(おお)きく変(か)わった。

My life has changed dramatically since I met him.

祖母(そぼ)が亡(な)くなって以来(いらい)、祖父(そふ)は元気(げんき)がない。

Since my grandmother passed away, my grandfather hasn't been himself.

病気(びょうき)して以来(いらい)、健康(けんこう)のありがたみがよく分(わ)かった。

Since getting sick, I've come to truly appreciate the value of good health.

あの映画(えいが)を見(み)て以来(いらい)、彼(かれ)のことが気(き)になって仕方(しかた)ない。

Ever since I saw that movie, I can't stop thinking about him.