回
huí
To return
后 (hòu) — how to say "after" in Chinese
Measure word: 个 (gè)
后
After; behind
locative word
How to use it
Goes after the noun, not before it.
房子后有个花园。
fáng zi hòu yǒu gè huā yuán
There is a garden behind the house.
Radicals / Keys
口
Mouth
#30 · kǒu · 3 strokes
Collocations
回家后
huí jiā hòu
after returning home
吃饭后
chī fàn hòu
after eating
Examples
他吃饭后去学校
After eating, he went to school
他站在门后。
He is standing behind the door.
Mnemonic
[hòu-] A tortoise named Hou always trails behind everyone 🐢. She walks after the rabbit and sighs, "I come after." That's why 后 means "after, behind."
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "after" in Chinese?
"after" in Chinese is 后 (hòu).
What does 后 mean in English?
后 (hòu) means "After; behind".
How is 后 pronounced?
It is pronounced hòu (written as hou). You can listen to the pronunciation on this page.
How do you write "after" in Chinese characters?
It is written 后.
What HSK 3.0 level is 后?
后 is on the HSK 3.0 level 1 word list. It is not part of the six-level HSK 2.0 lists.
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Grammar with 后
以后 — after a time or action
Time / Verb + 以后 (yǐhòu)
以后 vs 之后 — after, later
Event + 以后 (yǐhòu) / Event + 之后 (zhīhòu)
再也不 — never again
Subj. + 再也 (zài yě) + 不 (bù) + Verb Phrase + 了 (le)
或者 — or in statements
⋯⋯或者 (huòzhě)⋯⋯
以后 — in the future
以后 (yǐhòu)，⋯⋯
对于 vs 至于 — as for, regarding
对于 (duìyú) + Topic (focus) / 至于 (zhìyú) + Topic (transition)