自从【zìcóng】

自从 means "ever since". It goes before a time or event in the past, and the main clause describes the situation from then on. 以后 or 以来 often closes the 自从 phrase.

The main clause is often a habit or a state that still holds, so 一直, 再也没 or a change-of-state 了 turns up in it.

以来 is a little more formal than 以后 and fits a stretch that runs right up to now.

Only the past

自从 starts from something that has already happened. For a starting point in the future, use 从…开始 or 从…起.

• × 自从明天，我要早起 → 从明天开始，我要早起

Not "from … to"

自从 has no partner 到. A span with two ends takes plain 从.

• × 自从九点到五点 → 从九点到五点