Fixed pattern “从……起”
In Chinese the pattern “从……起” (cóng... qǐ) means the same as “从……开始” — “starting from …”.
It is mostly used to point to a time.
It usually stands at the start of the sentence and works as an adverbial.
Basic Structure
从 + time / event + 起，+ clause
In English: starting from …
Examples
他从那时起就努力学习。
From that time on he started studying hard.
Structure
从 + 那时 + 起 + 就努力学习
from + that time + on + studied hard
他 — he
从那时起 — from that time on
就 — from then on
努力学习 — to study hard
从那天起，我们就变成了好朋友。
From that day on we became good friends.
Structure
从 + 那天 + 起，+ 我们就变成了好朋友
from + that day + on + we became good friends
从那天起 — from that day on
我们 — we
就变成了 — became, from then on
好朋友 — good friends
从那次旅游起，我对中国文化更有兴趣了。
Since that trip I've been even more interested in Chinese culture.
Structure
从 + 那次旅游 + 起，+ 我对中国文化更有兴趣了
from + that trip + on + I became even more interested in Chinese culture
从那次旅游起 — since that trip
我 — I
对中国文化 — in Chinese culture
更有兴趣了 — have become even more interested
Quick Rule
从 + time / event + 起
Meaning: it shows a state or action beginning from a given time or event.
Examples:
从那时起from that time on
从那天起from that day on
从那次旅游起since that trip