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以后 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
以后yǐhòuafterHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #394, Medium
以后yǐhòulaterHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #394, Medium
以后yǐhòuafterwardsHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #394, Medium
以后yǐhòufollowingHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #394, Medium
以后yǐhòulater onHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #394, Medium
以后yǐhòuin the futureHSK 3, unknown, 10 strokes, rank #394, Medium
yǐhòu(yi3hou4)yi hou T3
  1. 1after
  2. 2later
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March 24, 2026

以后(以後)yǐhòu(yi3hou4)

以后 (yǐhòu) refers to a time that comes after a certain point or event. It is commonly used to indicate future actions or events, often in contexts related to plans, expectations, or time management.

Strokes10Frequency#394DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of planning for the future is emphasized in both personal and professional contexts, often reflecting the value placed on foresight and preparation.

Memory Tip

Imagine a clock moving forward, and you hear 'yi' (think of 'yeast' rising, as in time progressing) and 'hou' (which sounds like 'how', as in 'how much longer')—together, they remind you that time moves 'after' or 'later'.

Meanings of 以后

yǐhòu(yi3hou4)
1after
2later
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 以后

以后Simplified
以後Traditional
10Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L3ElementaryTOCFLL2HSKKL1CEFRA1

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AI Study Notes for 以后

Quick Contrast

以后 (yǐhòu) vs 之后 (zhīhòu) — use 以后 for a more general future context, while 之后 is more specific to events that follow directly after a defined point.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 以后 with 之前 (zhīqián), which means 'before'. The word is informal and can be used in both spoken and written contexts. Common collocations include '以后再说' (let's talk about it later).

HSK Study Tips

Although 以后 is not specifically listed in the HSK levels, it is essential for expressing future intentions and is often used with other time-related words. Focus on using it with verbs to articulate plans or expectations.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 以后 with its synonyms like 将来 (jiānglái), which means 'future' in a broader sense. For example, saying '我将来以后去' (I will go in the future later) is incorrect; it should be '我以后会去' (I will go later).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 以后

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Component Characters

以yǐto use
HSK 54 strokes人
View full entry
后hòuempress
HSK 16 strokes口
View full entry

How to say after in Chinese

“after” in Chinese is以后yǐhòu

以后 (yǐhòu) refers to a time that comes after a certain point or event. It is commonly used to indicate future actions or events, often in contexts related to plans, expectations, or time management.

When to use 以后

Be careful not to confuse 以后 with 之前 (zhīqián), which means 'before'. The word is informal and can be used in both spoken and written contexts. Common collocations include '以后再说' (let's talk about it later).

以后 or something close to it

以后 (yǐhòu) vs 之后 (zhīhòu) — use 以后 for a more general future context, while 之后 is more specific to events that follow directly after a defined point.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 以后 with its synonyms like 将来 (jiānglái), which means 'future' in a broader sense. For example, saying '我将来以后去' (I will go in the future later) is incorrect; it should be '我以后会去' (I will go later).

Write 以后

以
后

Practice writing 以后 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 以后

You can say '我们以后再见' (We will see each other later) to indicate future meetings.

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