prep.
Two people walking in tandem, one behind the other on the same path. From (a starting point in place, time, or source); through (a route or intermediary).
从
adv.
ever; always (usually in the negative)
Common Usage & Traps
- 从上海来 — come from Shanghai
- 从上海回来 — come back from Shanghai
- 从早上到晚上 — from morning to evening
- 从这儿走 — go from here / leave from here
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我来从上海我从上海来English puts 'from Shanghai' after the verb; Chinese puts 从 before the verb.
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从上海回来到北京从上海回到北京回来 already means 'come back here.' If you name the destination, use 回到北京 instead of stacking 到 after 回来.
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离上海来从上海来离 is for distance from a point, not for starting a trip.
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从上海很近离上海很近Talking about distance uses 离, not 从.
Why does 我来从上海 sound broken when 我从上海来 is fine?
从 comes before the verb, so 我从上海来 is right.
English lets 'from Shanghai' sit after 'come.' Chinese puts 从上海 before the verb 来. So you say 我从上海来, 他从北京来, 我们从公司走. If 从 lands after the verb, it sounds like a word-order crash.
“他今天从上海回来，晚上就和我去了一个饭馆儿吃北京菜。” (He came back from Shanghai today, and in the evening he and I went to a restaurant to eat Beijing cuisine.)
“他今天从上海回来，晚上就和我去了一个饭馆儿吃北京菜。” (He came back from Shanghai today, and in the evening he and I went to a restaurant to eat Beijing cuisine.)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Basic order | 我从上海来 | 我来从上海 |
| Person coming from a city | 他从北京来 | 他来从北京 |
| Leaving from a place | 我们从公司走 | 我们走从公司 |
Can you say 从上海回来到北京 to mean 'came back from Shanghai to Beijing'?
No. Use 从上海回到北京, or just 从上海回来 if you are already in Beijing.
回来 already means 'come back here.' It has the 'back to this place' idea baked in. If you need to name the destination, switch to 回到北京. So 从上海回到北京 is clean. 从上海回来到北京 piles two endpoints together and sounds wrong.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Destination named | 从上海回到北京 | 从上海回来到北京 |
| Speaker already in Beijing | 从上海回来 | 从上海回来到北京 |
| Past trip to Beijing | 他昨天回到北京 | 他昨天回来到北京 |
Why do you say 从上海来 but 离上海很近 when both feel like 'from'?
从 starts movement; 离 measures distance.
从 marks where a trip, action, or time period starts. 离 marks how far one place is from another. So 从上海来 means the trip starts in Shanghai. 离上海很近 means the distance to Shanghai is short. Mixing them makes the sentence talk about the wrong relation.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Starting a trip | 从上海来 | 离上海来 |
| Distance from a place | 离上海很近 | 从上海很近 |
| Time start | 从早上开始 | 离早上开始 |
| Range | 从早上到晚上 | 离早上到晚上 |
Appears in Stories 6 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Learn the fascinating story behind the Chinese idiom '东山再起' (Dongshan Zaiji), which means to make a comeback. Discover its historical roots and modern usage.
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“东山再起”这个成语的本意是一个人失败以后或 从 高的地位落到低的地位以后，重新回到成功的位置。
This humorous dialogue follows a man who spends all his savings on his girlfriend's Apple phone and a lucky number, leaving him broke. A fun read for HSK 3 learners.
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从 现在开始，不花钱了。
Why would a millionaire leave a table of lobster and wagyu untouched? This story explores the hidden rules of business dining and the true cost of staying alert.
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从 那以后他才学会了，饭桌上吃得越少，别人越拿不准你，越拿不准就越不敢动你。
Think instant noodles are unhealthy? This HSK 6 article challenges common myths and reveals surprising facts about nutrition, oil, and salt in this convenient food.
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误会二：方便面没有什么营养事实上，除了刚出生的小宝宝可以只吃一种食物获得全部营养以外，没有任何人可以 从 单一一种食物中获得全部的营养。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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他今天 从 上海回来，晚上就和我去了一个饭馆儿吃北京菜。
Meet Xiao Shang, who is heading back to Shanghai. She compares two ways to travel and tells us why she prefers the slower one. This story helps you practice comparing transportation in simple Chinese.
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从 北京到上海坐飞机，不到两个小时，但是要坐火车，就要最少五个多小时。
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