Chinese grammar: Comparing 后来houlai and 然后ranhou
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来源:互联网
2013-11-28 11:00:01.000
One of the most often confused words are 后来 (hòulái) and 然后 (ránhòu). They are similar on the surface, meaning something like "and then," but their usage is fairly different.
后来 is used to describe previous things
后来 is a time noun, and it can only be used on its own. It describes a certain time period in the past to the present, and it allows the speaker to described what happened in that period.
Structure
Examples
Hòu lái wǒ qù le lìnɡ wài yī jiā ɡōnɡ sī ɡōnɡ zuò.
后来 我 去 了 另外 一 家 公司 工作。
后来 我 去 了 另外 一 家 公司 工作。
Afterwards, I went to work for another company.
然后 is used to describe things happens next
然后 is always used in a sequence. It is often used with 先 (meaning "first").
Structure
Examples
Wǒ men yào qù chī fàn , rán hòu qù chāo shì 。
我们 要 去 吃饭,然后 去 超市。
我们 要 去 吃饭,然后 去 超市。
I'm going to eat, then I'll go to the supermarket.