“〜te kara to iu mono”: Ever Since 〜 [JLPT N1]

Content by NTJ Kuma · Nihongo to Japan editorial team · Updated July 27, 2026

「犬を飼ってからというもの、散歩が日課に」 — ever since one turning point, a lasting change that carries real feeling.

「子供が生まれてからというもの」 — ever since that, things have never been the same

Life has turning points, after which the days are utterly different — 「子供が生まれてからというもの、自分の時間がすっかりなくなった (ever since my child was born, my own time has completely vanished).」 「〜てからというもの」 = ever since ～ (it's been…). It stresses a major change persisting to now after a turning point, with feeling. This guide clarifies its core of “persisting change after a turn ＋ feeling,” separating it from the plain 「てから.」

Core: ever since ～, (the state has) persistently changed to now (with feeling)

「verb て-form ＋ からというもの」 means “ever since ～, it's been ～” — stressing that after a turning point (event), some state has persistently, markedly changed and held to now, often with feeling:

• 禁煙してからというもの、体の調子がすこぶるいい (ever since quitting smoking, my health has been excellent).
• あの人に出会ってからというもの、私の人生は大きく変わった (ever since meeting that person, my life changed greatly).
• 引っ越してからというもの、近所付き合いが増えた (ever since moving, neighborly contact has increased).

Feel: the core is “ever since ～ this turning point, some state has persistently, markedly changed and continued to now” — stressing the persistence and magnitude of the change, often with feeling (looking back on how that turn changed all that followed). The latter clause is mostly a persisting state change (has come to ～, has stopped ～, never again ～). In English: “ever since ～ (it's been…)／since ～ (it's been…).”

How it attaches

Examples in use

• 彼女と別れてからというもの、何をしても楽しくない。(Ever since breaking up with her, nothing is fun no matter what I do.)
• あの映画を見てからというもの、彼は俳優を志すようになった。(Ever since seeing that film, he came to aspire to be an actor.)
• 大病を患ってからというもの、健康の大切さが身にしみる。(Ever since a serious illness, the importance of health sinks in.)
• 一人暮らしを始めてからというもの、料理が趣味になった。(Ever since I started living alone, cooking has become a hobby.)
• その一言を聞いてからというもの、彼のことが忘れられない。(Ever since hearing those words, I can't forget him.)

⚠️ Common mistakes to avoid

① The core is ‘a persisting major change after a turn ＋ feeling,' not a plain ‘after ～.' This is 「てからというもの」's key feel. It's not just the temporal “after ～,” but stresses “ever since a turning point (event), some state has persistently, markedly changed and continued to now” — with the magnitude, persistence of the change, and feeling. It's often for looking back on a life-／living-changing turn: 子供が生まれてからというもの、生活が一変した (ever since my child was born, life utterly changed — stressing a major, persisting change ＋ feeling). Test: to with feeling stress “ever since ～ (that turn), it's been persistently／utterly ～ (a major persisting change)” → てからというもの.

② The latter clause is mostly a ‘state change persisting to now.' In attachment and the latter clause, 「てからというもの」's latter clause is mostly a state change persisting, continuing to now — “came to ～ (〜ようになった), no longer ～ (〜なくなった), has been ～ (ずっと〜)”: 留学してからというもの、視野が広がった (ever since studying abroad, my horizons have broadened), 彼が去ってからというもの、職場が静かになった (ever since he left, the workplace has been quiet). It stresses “ever since that turn, the state has ‘been' so.” Test: the latter clause takes a persisting state change (〜ようになった／なくなった／ずっと).

③ Separate it from 「てから」 — てからというもの carries ‘persisting, major change ＋ feeling,' てから is just plain time sequence. This most needs distinction. 「〜てからというもの」 = ever since ～, it's been ～ (stressing persisting, major change after a turn, with feeling): 卒業してからというもの、一度も帰っていない (ever since graduating, I've not once gone back — stressing a persisting state ＋ feeling). Its point is “ever since then, it's been persistently／utterly ～ (a major change),” weightier, feeling-laden. 「〜てから」 = after ～ (plain time sequence, action order, see 〈てから〉): 手を洗ってから、食事する (eat after washing hands — a plain action order), 宿題をしてから遊ぶ (play after doing homework). It just plainly means “do A first, then B,” a time sequence, without “persisting change, feeling.” Difference: 「てからというもの」 = ever since ～, it's been ～ (stressing persisting, major change ＋ feeling); 「てから」 = after ～ (plain time sequence, see 〈てから〉). Test: to with feeling say “ever since ～ (that turn), it's been persistently／utterly ～” → てからというもの; to just say “do ～ first, then ～” (time sequence) → てから. So “ever since moving, life changed” (major change ＋ feeling) uses てからというもの, “eat after washing hands” (plain order) uses てから.

🔄 Compare: てからというもの／てから／て以来／て以降

💡 Learning tip

「〜てからというもの」 = ever since ～ (it's been…) — three points: ① the core is “a persisting major change after a turn ＋ feeling” — not a plain “after ～,” but “ever since a turning point, the state has persistently／utterly changed and continued to now” (with feeling); ② the latter clause is mostly a state change persisting to now (〜ようになった／なくなった／ずっと); ③ separate it from 「てから (a plain time sequence, see 〈てから〉)」. This pattern has real retrospective, feeling-laden flavor — 「子供が生まれてからというもの…」 renders, with a story-like weight, that feeling of “ever since that turn, my life has never been the same.” To look back with feeling on a life-changing turn, 「てからというもの」 has the most resonance; for just saying “do ～ then ～” in order, use 「てから.」

❓ Common questions

Q: What's the difference between 「てからというもの」 and 「てから」? Both ‘after ～'?

The difference is ‘a persisting, major change ＋ feeling' vs ‘a plain time sequence.' 「〜てからというもの」 = ever since ～, it's been ～ (stressing persisting, major change after a turn, with feeling): it stresses “ever since a turning point (event), some state has persistently, markedly changed and continued to now,” with the magnitude, persistence of the change and a retrospective feeling, mostly for looking back on a life-／living-changing turn: 親になってからというもの、時間の使い方が変わった (ever since becoming a parent, how I use time has changed). Its latter clause is mostly a “state change persisting to now.” 「〜てから」 = after ～ (a plain time sequence, action order, see 〈てから〉): it just plainly means “do A first, then B,” a time order, without “persisting change, feeling”: 手を洗ってから食べる (eat after washing hands), 準備してから出かける (go out after preparing). Difference: 「てからというもの」 = ever since ～, it's been ～ (stressing persisting, major change ＋ feeling, looking back on a turn); 「てから」 = after ～ (a plain action order, time sequence, see 〈てから〉). Test: to with feeling stress “ever since ～ (that turn), it's been persistently／utterly ～ (a major change)” → てからというもの; to just say “do ～ first, then ～” (order) → てから. So “ever since falling ill, I mind my health” (major change ＋ feeling) uses てからというもの, “play after finishing homework” (plain order) uses てから. Not interchangeable.

Q: What's the difference between 「てからというもの」 and 「て以来」?

Close in meaning (both “ever since ～”), differing in ‘feeling, weight' and ‘register.' 「〜てからというもの」 = ever since ～, it's been ～ (with feeling, stressing a major persisting change): it carries clear feeling, weight, stressing “ever since that turn, the state has ‘been' utterly changed and continued to now,” often for looking back on a life-changing turn, its feel more subjective, lyrical: 彼を失ってからというもの、笑わなくなった (ever since losing him, I've stopped laughing — with strong feeling). It suits looking back with emotion. 「〜て以来」 = since ～ (persisting from a time to now, more written, neutral): it's more written, neutral, objective, just “since a time point, it's been ～,” lighter on feeling: 入社して以来、無遅刻無欠勤だ (since joining the company, never late or absent — an objective statement), 卒業して以来、彼とは会っていない (since graduating, I haven't seen him). Difference: 「てからというもの」 = with feeling, lyrical (stressing a major change, looking back on a life turn); 「て以来」 = more written, neutral, objective (just “since ～, it's been ～”). Test: to with feeling, lyrically look back “ever since ～, it's been persistently／utterly ～” → てからというもの; to just objectively, neutrally say “since ～, it's been ～” → て以来. Close in meaning, but 「てからというもの」 carries heavier feeling and weight.

🖊️ Practice Questions (5)

Q1. 「犬を飼い___、毎朝の散歩が日課になった。」(ever since I started keeping a dog)

(A) てからというもの　(B) たとたんに　(C) たばかりに　(D) るが早いか

Q2. 「てからというもの」の前の動詞の形は?

(A) て形　(B) Dictionary form　(C) ない形　(D) た形

Q3. 「禁煙してからというもの体調がいい」の意味は?

(A) Ever since I quit smoking my health has been good (a long-term change)

(B) About to quit smoking

(C) Before quitting smoking

(D) Didn't quit smoking

Q4. 「てからというもの」の語感は?

(A) A long-term, marked change from some event onward (with deep feeling)

(B) A simple temporal sequence

(C) A command

(D) A condition

Q5. 接法が正しいのは?

(A) 上京してからというもの便りがない。　(B) 上京するからというもの。

(C) 上京したからというもの(て形が自然)。　(D) 上京からというもの。

Answer Explanations

1. (A) てからというもの ── Ever since I started keeping a dog.

2. (A) て形 ── て-form ＋ からというもの.

3. (A) ── Ever since I quit smoking it's been good.

4. (A) ── A long-term, marked change, with deep feeling.

5. (A) ── 「上京してからというもの」is correct.