The preposition 从
The preposition 从 has several functions and can be translated in different ways. Let's look at all of them.
The meaning "from"
从 
can be placed before a noun denoting a place. In this case, it means “from”.
can be placed before a noun denoting a place. In this case, it means “from”.Scheme
subject
从
place
predicate
Examples
他是从美国来的
He is from the USA
tā shì cóng měiguó lái de
阳光从窗帘透了进来
Sunlight comes through the curtains
yángguāng cóng chuānglián tòu le jìnlái
In some cases, a person is used as an adverbial modifier of place. For example: “I will visit you first and then go home”.
In these sentences, if the speaker is in the same place, the person is followed by the pronouns 这儿 /这里 . If the speaker is in another place, the person is followed by the pronouns 那儿 /那里 .
/这里 . If the speaker is in another place, the person is followed by the pronouns 那儿 /那里 .Examples
我从我这儿去图书馆
I’ll go to the library from here
wǒ cóng wǒ zhèr qù túshū guǎn
The meaning "of, from"
从 can also be used to make phrases like "to learn from him" and "to take from her". In this case, we should put 从 before the word denoting a person and then add the adverb 那儿/那里 or 这儿/这里.
We should use 这儿 and 这里 when talking about ourselves:
从我这儿
We should use 那儿 and 那里 when talking about someone else:
从他那儿
We should use 那儿 and 那里 when talking about someone else:
从他那儿 Scheme
从
who
这儿/那儿
Examples
她从他那儿抢过了相册
She snatched the album from his han
tā cóng tā nàr qiǎngguò le xiàngcè
他经常从我这儿借钱
He often borrows money from me
tā jīngcháng cóng wǒ zhèr jiè qián
The meaning "since"
从 can precede the adverbial modifier of time and indicate the starting point of an action. In this case, 从 is translated as "since".
The time can be followed by the words 起 and 开始 "to begin".
and 开始 "to begin".Examples
从今天起，我要好好读书
Starting from today, I will study hard
cóng jīntiān qǐ, wǒ yào hǎohǎo dúshū
运动会从星期一开始
The sporting events start on Monday
yùndònghuì cóng xīngqīyī kāishǐ
从 can also be followed by the starting point of a process.
Examples
从毕业那天起，他就没见过他的父亲
He hasn't seen his father since his graduation
cóng bìyè nà tiān qǐ, tā jiù méi jiànguò tā de fùqīn
他从18岁起就有汽车了
He's had a car since he was 18
tā cóng shíbā suì qǐ jiù yǒu qìchē le
The meaning "based on"
从 can also mean "based on", "judging by". In the first part of a sentence, 从 is followed by what we base our assessment on. The conclusion is placed in the second part of the sentence.
These sentences usually contain the following phrases: "it is clear that...", "it may be said that...".
Examples
从他的口判断，他是北方人
Judging by his accent, he's a northerner
cóng tā de kŏuyīn pànduàn tā shì bĕifāng rén
从她的表情可以看出她很失望
I could tell by the look on her face that she was disappointed
cóng tā de biăoqíng kĕyĭ kànchū tā hĕn shīwàng
The usage of 从 with positions words
Pay attention
Location and Position words form a group of specific Chinese words — localizers (方位词) — which we use to indicate the direction or exact position of an object.
从 can be used in the following structures with positions words:
从……上
Examples
从床上跳下来
Jump out of bed
cóng chuángshàng tiào xiàlái
她从聚会上逃跑
She ran away from a party
tā cóng jùhuì shàng táopăo
从……中
Examples
从经验中学习
To learn from experience
cóng jīngyàn zhōng xuéxí
从你的眼中能看出来
I can see it in your eyes
cóng nĭ de yănzhōng néng kàn chūlái
从……下
Examples
把国家从压迫下解放出来
To free the land from oppression
bă guójiā cóng yāpò xià jiĕfàng chūlái
猫从床下走了出来
The cat came out from under the bed
māo cóng chuáng xià zŏu le chūlái
从……里
Examples
水从水管里涌出
Water gushes out of a pipe
shuĭ cóng shuĭguăn lĭ yŏngchū
狗从洞里爬出来
The dog crawled out of the hole
gŏu cóng dòng lĭ pá chūlái