以来・已来|いらいirai[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
Which spelling to use
以来以来 is the most common form and is written only in kanji. Beginners should use it by default.
已来已来 is a rarely used form written only in kanji. You will seldom see it, so beginners need not choose it.
Definitions
  1. noun (suffix)since; henceforth
    1988年ねん以来いらいトムに会あっていません。↗
    I haven't seen Tom since 1988.
  2. noun, adverbever since
Synonyms & antonyms
  • RelatedこれからNeutralPoints from now onward; in everyday writing it appears as 「これから」. 「以来」 typically follows a point in time and means from then up to now.
  • Related今からいまからCasualPoints from now onward; common in speech. 「以来」 usually covers a span from some past point up to the present, though it can also mean from now on.
  • Related今後はNeutralPoints from now on, stressing one's attitude or arrangements hereafter. 「以来」 mainly means from some past time to the present, but can also mean from now on.

Use 「以来」 for something continuing from a past point to now, as in 「卒業以来」. For simply from now on, everyday speech takes 「これから」 or 「今から」, while 「今後は」 sounds more formal.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 以前いぜんのある時点じてんから当とうの時点じてんまで継続けいぞくして、しばしば起おこって、経過けいかして。接続せつぞく助詞じょし・格助詞かくじょしのように用もちいる。
  2. 以前いぜんのある時点じてんから当とうの時点じてんまで継続けいぞくしたある長ながさの期間きかんにおいて。接続せつぞく助詞じょし・格助詞かくじょしのように用もちいる。
  3. 以前いぜんのある時点じてんから当とうの時点じてんまでではじめてのこと。
  4. 以前いぜんのある時点じてんから当とうの時点じてんまででもっとも程度ていどのはなはだしいさまを表あらわす。
  5. 爾来じらい。それ以来いらい。接続詞せつぞくし・副詞ふくしのように用もちいる。
  6. (やや古いにしえ)以後いご。今後こんご。この後あと。接続詞せつぞくし・副詞ふくしのように用もちいる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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