後 meaning and stroke order
After; behind, rear; descendants
How to write 後, stroke by stroke
9 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
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- 8
- 9
Meaning of 後
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- back
- behind
- rear
- afterwards
- after
- later
How 後 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. One step 彳 coming behind another 夂; 幺 provides the pronunciation.
Radical: 彳 (to step with the left foot), shared by 42 characters on this site.
How to remember 後
The step radical 彳 on the left and the dragging foot 夂 at the bottom right show one step coming behind another, so 後 (hòu) means behind or after. The small thread 幺 in the middle gives the sound.
後 marks position (behind, at the back) and time (after, later). It appears in many common words such as 以後 (yǐhòu), 然後 (ránhòu), and 最後 (zuìhòu). Example: 我吃完飯以後去散步。(Wǒ chī wán fàn yǐhòu qù sànbù.) I go for a walk after I finish eating.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 後 with 很 (hěn) or 得 (dé), which also start with 彳. Check the right side: 後 has 幺 over 夂, not 艮 or 旦 over 寸. Also keep the fourth tone hòu and do not say hǒu.
Common words with 後
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 最後 | zuìhòu | final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end | HSK 1 |
| 後天 | hòutiān | the day after tomorrow; life after birth (the period in which one develops through experie | HSK 1 |
| 後邊 | hòubian | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back | HSK 1 |
| 然後 | ránhòu | then; after that; afterwards | HSK 2 |
| 以後 | yǐhòu | after; later | HSK 2 |
| 後來 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived | HSK 2 |
| 今後 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth | HSK 2 |
| 後面 | hòumiàn | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back | HSK 3 |
| 背後 | bèihòu | behind; at the back | HSK 3 |
| 後果 | hòuguǒ | consequences; aftermath | HSK 3 |
| 落後 | luòhòu | to fall behind; to lag (in technology etc) | HSK 3 |
| 前後 | qiánhòu | around; from beginning to end | HSK 3 |
| 後年 | hòunián | the year after next | HSK 3 |
| 之後 | zhīhòu | after; behind; (at the beginning of a sentence) afterwards; since then | HSK 4 |
Questions about 後
How many strokes are in 後?
後 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 後 mean?
後 (hòu) means after; behind, rear; descendants. A common word with it is 最后 (zuìhòu), meaning "final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end".
How do you pronounce 後?
後 is pronounced hòu, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 後?
The radical of 後 is 彳, which carries the idea of "to step with the left foot". Dictionaries list 後 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 後?
後 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 后, used in mainland China and Singapore.
Why do I see both 後 and 后 for hòu?
后 is the simplified form used in mainland China, and it also means queen or empress as in 皇后 (huánghòu). In traditional writing, 後 means after or behind, while 后 is kept for the empress meaning.
What is the difference between 以後 and 後來?
以後 (yǐhòu) can refer to the future or follow a clause, as in 下課以後 (after class). 後來 (hòulái) only talks about the past and means later on, so you cannot use it for something that has not happened yet.