后来
hòulái
Later, afterwards
How to say “later” in Chinese with 后来 (hòulái)
Event 1，后来 (hòulái) Event 2
后来 (hòu lái) — later, afterwards
HSK 3Nouns
Event 1，后来 (hòulái) Event 2
HSK 3Nouns后来 (hòu lái) — later, afterwards
Rule structure
后来 (hòulái) means "afterwards" or "later" and is used to narrate what happened next in a past sequence of events.
Rule structure
后来 (hòulái) means "afterwards" or "later" and is used to narrate what happened next in a past sequence of events.
Examples
他开始学中文，后来去了中国。
Tā kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén, hòulái qù le Zhōngguó.
He started learning Chinese, and later went to China.
她工作很努力后来升职。
Tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì hòulái shēngzhí.
She worked very hard, and later got a promotion.
我先看书后来睡觉。
Wǒ xiān kànshū hòulái shuìjiào.
I read a book first, and later slept.
Examples
他开始学中文，后来去了中国。
Tā kāishǐ xué Zhōngwén, hòulái qù le Zhōngguó.
He started learning Chinese, and later went to China.
她工作很努力后来升职。
Tā gōngzuò hěn nǔlì hòulái shēngzhí.
She worked very hard, and later got a promotion.
我先看书后来睡觉。
Wǒ xiān kànshū hòulái shuìjiào.
I read a book first, and later slept.
Practice
Build the sentence
Drag the characters to put them in the correct order
Characters
Words from this rule
Frequently asked questions
How do you say “later, afterwards” in Chinese with 后来?
Use the structure: Event 1，后来 (hòulái) Event 2. For example: 他开始学中文，后来去了中国。 — “He started learning Chinese, and later went to China”.
What is an example sentence with this grammar rule?
他开始学中文，后来去了中国。 — “He started learning Chinese, and later went to China”.
Which HSK level includes this grammar rule?
This grammar rule is part of HSK 3.
Tomyo
Learn Chinese grammar with smart reviews
Grammar explanations, exercises and spaced repetition — all in one app.
More HSK 3 grammar rules
刚才 — just now
刚才 (gāngcái) + Verb
时 — when, at the time of
Time + 时 (shí)
以后 — in the future
以后 (yǐhòu)，⋯⋯
以前 — before, previously
以前 (yǐqián)，⋯⋯
一边 — doing two things at once
一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 1, 一边 (yìbiān) + Verb 2
如果…就 — if… then…
如果 (rúguǒ)……，就 (jiù)……
万 — big numbers
Number + 万 (wàn) / 亿 (yì)
地 — turning adjectives into adverbs
Adj. + 地 (de) + Verb