后 meaning and stroke order
Back; behind; rear
How to write 后, stroke by stroke
6 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Meaning of 后
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- back
- behind
- rear
- afterwards
- after
- later
How 后 is built
Components of the character.
Radical: 口 (mouth), shared by 428 characters on this site.
How to remember 后
Look at 后 as a slanted roof shape sheltering a mouth 口 at the bottom. Picture a person at the back of a line, tucked in behind everyone, with only their mouth 口 peeking out at the rear.
后 (hòu) marks things that come later in time or sit behind in space, and it usually appears in words like 以后 (yǐhòu), 然后 (ránhòu) and 后面 (hòumiàn). In time phrases it follows the event: 吃饭以后 means "after eating." Example: 我先洗澡，然后睡觉。(Wǒ xiān xǐzǎo, ránhòu shuìjiào.) I take a shower first, then go to bed.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 后 (hòu) with 右 (yòu, right) or 石 (shí, stone), since all have a 口 tucked under strokes on the left. Also, English speakers tend to put "after" first, but Chinese says 下课以后 (xiàkè yǐhòu), with 以后 after the event.
Common words with 后
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 最后 | zuìhòu | final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end | HSK 1 |
| 后天 | hòutiān | the day after tomorrow; life after birth (the period in which one develops through experie | HSK 1 |
| 后边 | hòubian | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back | HSK 1 |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that; afterwards | HSK 2 |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later | HSK 2 |
| 后来 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived | HSK 2 |
| 今后 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth | HSK 2 |
| 后面 | hòumiàn | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back | HSK 3 |
| 背后 | bèihòu | behind; at the back | HSK 3 |
| 后果 | hòuguǒ | consequences; aftermath | HSK 3 |
| 落后 | luòhòu | to fall behind; to lag (in technology etc) | HSK 3 |
| 前后 | qiánhòu | around; from beginning to end | HSK 3 |
| 后年 | hòunián | the year after next | HSK 3 |
| 之后 | zhīhòu | after; behind; (at the beginning of a sentence) afterwards; since then | HSK 4 |
后 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 后
Learning 后 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 后
How many strokes are in 后?
后 is written with 6 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 后 mean?
后 (hòu) means back; behind; rear. A common word with it is 最后 (zuìhòu), meaning "final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end".
How do you pronounce 后?
后 is pronounced hòu, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 后?
The radical of 后 is 口, which carries the idea of "mouth". Dictionaries list 后 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 后?
The traditional form of 后 is 後. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 后 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 后 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 后 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 然后 and 后来?
然后 (ránhòu) means "then, next" and links steps in a sequence, including future plans. 后来 (hòulái) means "later on, afterwards" and is used only for past events, as in 后来他走了 (hòulái tā zǒu le), later he left.
Does 后 also mean queen or empress?
Yes, 后 is also used in words like 皇后 (huánghòu), empress. In traditional script this sense stays 后, while "behind, after" is written 後, so both meanings share one simplified character.