Have you ever thought back and said, “Ever since that moment, everything changed”?
Like, “Ever since I started learning Japanese, my Netflix list is full of Japanese anime and yakuza movies!,” or “Ever since I met my best friend, my life’s been brighter.”

In Japanese, the phrase for this is 〜て以来 (te irai).
It means “since” or “ever since,” and it’s an N2 grammar point. You use it to describe something that has continued from a certain time or event up until now.

It’s a super natural way to connect past events with the present, whether in daily conversation, stories, or even more formal writing. And once you can talk across longer timelines, you’ll be able to express much deeper thoughts.

Shall we check it out?

〜てから (te kara)
Both 〜てから and 〜て以来 mean “since,” but nuance differs.

〜てから simply marks the starting point of an action.
〜て以来 emphasizes continuity, that the situation has stayed the same from then until now.

日本に来てから、寿司を食べました。
にほん に きて から、すし を たべました。
nihon ni kite kara, sushi wo tabemashita.
Since I came to Japan, I ate sushi. (one-time action)

日本に来て以来、毎日寿司を食べています。
にほん に きて いらい、まいにち すし を たべて います。
nihon ni kite irai, mainichi sushi wo tabete imasu.
Ever since I came to Japan, I’ve been eating sushi every day. (continuing)

大学卒業以来、同じ会社で働いています。
だいがく そつぎょう いらい、おなじ かいしゃ で はたらいて います。
daigaku sotsugyou irai, onaji kaisha de hataraite imasu.
I’ve been working at the same company since graduating from university.

父のお葬式以来、母はずっとふさぎこんでいる。
ちち の おそうしき いらい、はは は ずっと ふさぎこんで いる。
chichi no osoushiki irai, haha ha zutto fusagikonde iru.
Ever since my father’s funeral, my mother has been depressed.

一人暮らしを始めて以来、毎日自炊しています。
ひとりぐらし を はじめて いらい、まいにち じすい して います。
hitorigurashi wo hajimete irai, mainichi jisui shite imasu.
Ever since I started living alone, I’ve been cooking for myself every day.

あの映画を見て以来、主人公の俳優のファンです。
あの えいが を みて いらい、しゅじんこう の はいゆう の ふぁん です。
ano eiga wo mite irai, shujinkou no haiyuu no fan desu.
Ever since I watched that movie, I’ve been a fan of the lead actor.

ひかり先生と出会って以来、日本語の勉強が楽しいです。
ひかり せんせい と であって いらい、にほんご の べんきょう が たのしい です。
hikari sensei to deatte irai, nihongo no benkyou ga tanoshii desu.
Ever since I met Hikari-sensei, studying Japanese has been fun.

• Grammar Point: 〜て以来 (te irai)
• JLPT Level: N2
• Meaning: Since, ever since
• Quick Explanation: 〜て以来 connects a past event or point in time with the present, emphasizing that the situation has continued up until now.

So that’s how we use 〜て以来 in Japanese!
It’s the perfect phrase for looking back and connecting a past turning point to your current life.

みんなと出会って以来、日本語を教えるのがますます楽しいです。
みんな と であって いらい、にほんご を おしえる の が ますます たのしい です。
minna to deatte irai, nihongo wo oshieru no ga masumasu tanoshii desu.
Ever since I met all of you, teaching Japanese has become even more fun.

Now it’s your turn, what’s something that has continued ever since an important moment in your life?

Your Sensei,
Hikari 👩🏻‍🏫

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