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滞后 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
滞后zhìhòuto lag behindHSK 7, unknown, 18 strokes, rank #37706, Very Hard
zhìhòu(zhi4hou4)zhi hou T4
  1. 1to lag behind
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March 24, 2026

滞后(滯後)zhìhòu(zhi4hou4)

滞后 (zhìhòu) means to lag behind or to fall behind in progress or development. It's commonly used in contexts such as technology, economics, and education to describe situations where something is not keeping pace with advancements or expectations.

Strokes18Frequency#37706DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

滞后 can reflect China's rapid development compared to other countries, particularly in technology and infrastructure. It is often discussed in the context of policy-making and national strategy.

Memory tip

Imagine a turtle (滞) that is stuck in mud (后) and cannot move forward. The turtle represents slow progress, linking the character's form to its meaning of lagging behind.

Meanings of 滞后

zhìhòu(zhi4hou4)
1to lag behind
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About 滞后

滞后Simplified
滯後Traditional
18Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 滞后

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AI study notes for 滞后

Quick Contrast

滞后 (lag behind) vs 落后 (fall behind) — use 滞后 for contexts emphasizing a delay in progress, while 落后 often implies being behind in terms of development or capability.

Usage Notes

Be cautious of using 滞后 in contexts where urgency is implied; it may sound too formal in casual conversations. Common collocations include '技术滞后' (technological lag) and '发展滞后' (development lag). Remember the third tone (hòu) when speaking to avoid confusion.

HSK Study Tips

滞后 is not an HSK vocabulary word, but it is relevant for advanced learners (HSK 5 or 6). Students should focus on understanding its application in various contexts, as it often appears in discussions about progress and innovation.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 滞后 with 迟到 (chídào), which means 'to be late.' For example, saying '我滞后到工作' instead of '我迟到工作' is incorrect; use 迟到 for being late.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 滞后

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Component characters

滞zhìsluggish
12 strokes氵
View full entry
后hòuempress
HSK 16 strokes口
View full entry

How to say to lag behind in Chinese

“to lag behind” in Chinese is滞后zhìhòu

滞后 (zhìhòu) means to lag behind or to fall behind in progress or development. It's commonly used in contexts such as technology, economics, and education to describe situations where something is not keeping pace with advancements or expectations.

When to use 滞后

Be cautious of using 滞后 in contexts where urgency is implied; it may sound too formal in casual conversations. Common collocations include '技术滞后' (technological lag) and '发展滞后' (development lag). Remember the third tone (hòu) when speaking to avoid confusion.

滞后 or something close to it

滞后 (lag behind) vs 落后 (fall behind) — use 滞后 for contexts emphasizing a delay in progress, while 落后 often implies being behind in terms of development or capability.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 滞后 with 迟到 (chídào), which means 'to be late.' For example, saying '我滞后到工作' instead of '我迟到工作' is incorrect; use 迟到 for being late.

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滞
后

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Frequently asked questions about 滞后

It's frequently used in discussions about economic growth, education standards, and technological advancements.

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