since a little while ago; for a while now
Indicates that a state or action has been continuing from a short time ago up to the present. Often used in formal or written contexts.
It has been raining since a little while ago.
The phone has been ringing non-stop for a while now.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling. 先ほど (a while ago) + 来 (since).
Variant using 程 for ほど. Less common but seen.
All-kana spelling. Rarely used; the kanji 来 is normally written.
Compound of 先ほど (sakihodo, 'a little while ago') + 来 (rai, 'since'). The 来 here is a Sino-Japanese suffix indicating 'since' or 'from'.