以い降こう

い

こ

う

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

1

noun, adverb

on and after; from ... onward; since

Used after a time or event noun to mean 'from that point forward'. Common in formal and written contexts.

来らい月げつ以い降こうの予よ定ていを確かく認にんし

て

ください

。

Please check the schedule for next month onward.

この日ひ以い降こう、彼かれは一いち度ども遅ち刻こくしていない。

Since that day, he has never been late.

Usage patterns

〈時とき〉以い降こうfrom (a certain time) onward
来らい月げつ以い降こう、値ね段だんが上あがります。
Prices will go up from next month onward.
〈事こと〉以い降こうsince (an event happened)
引ひっ越こし以い降こう、忙いそがしくなった。
I've been busy since the move.
〈数すう〉歳さい以い降こうfrom age ... onward
20歳さい以い降こうは自じ分ぶんで税ぜい金きんを払はらわなければならない。
From age 20 onward, you have to pay taxes yourself.

Kanji

以by means of, because, in view of
降descend, precipitate, fall
已stop, halt, previously

Related words

以い後ごN3
以後 is more common in speech and typically means 'from now on', while 以降 is slightly more formal and used to mark a specific point in time.
以い来らいN3
以来 stresses an unbroken continuation since a past event, whereas 以降 just marks the starting point without implying continuity.
今こん後ごN3
今後 always means 'from now into the future', while 以降 can attach to any past, present, or future reference point.
後ご
後 (ご) simply marks a point that comes after something, while 以降 (いこう) emphasizes the continuous period from that point onward.

Opposites

以い前ぜんN3
以前 means 'before' a given point in time, the direct opposite of 以降 'from that point onward'.

Don't confuse with

以い内ないN4
以内 means 'within' a limit (e.g. a deadline or quantity), while 以降 means 'from a point onward'; learners confuse them because both use 以 with a time/number expression.
以い上じょうN4
以上 means '... or more/above' a quantity, while 以降 marks a starting point in time; both share the 以 pattern but express different comparisons.
意い向こうN1
以降 (いこう) means 'from now on/onward' in time, a completely different meaning from 意向 (いこう) 'intention', despite sharing the same pronunciation.

Written forms

以い降こうUsage100%
Standard kanji form; high priority.
已い降こう
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.

Etymology

Compound of 以 (from, by means of) and 降 (descend, go down), literally 'from this point descending'. The kanji combination is conventional for expressing temporal or sequential progression.