Meaning of 今后
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- hereafter
- henceforth
- in the future
- from now on
How to use 今后
今后 is a time noun that usually goes at the start of a sentence or right before the verb. It often appears in promises, plans, and advice, and it sounds a little more formal than everyday chat. Example: 今后我会早点来。(Jīnhòu wǒ huì zǎo diǎn lái.) From now on I will come a bit earlier.
今 (jīn) means now, as in 今天 (jīntiān) today, and 后 (hòu) means after. Put them together and you get "from now and after", which is hereafter or from now on.
Common mistake: Learners often use 今后 where 然后 (ránhòu) belongs. 然后 means "then, after that" in a sequence of actions, while 今后 means "from this point on" for a lasting change. Also keep the first tone on 今 (jīn), not jìn.
今后 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
今 jīn · modern · 4 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
后 hòu · back · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 今后.
| 今天 | jīntiān | today; the present time; now |
| 最后 | zuìhòu | final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end |
| 今年 | jīnnián | this year |
| 后天 | hòutiān | the day after tomorrow; life after birth (the period in which one develops through experie |
| 后边 | hòubian | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back |
| 然后 | ránhòu | then; after that; afterwards |
| 以后 | yǐhòu | after; later |
| 后来 | hòulái | afterwards; later; newly arrived |
| 后面 | hòumiàn | the back; the rear; the last bit; behind; near the end; at the back |
| 背后 | bèihòu | behind; at the back |
| 后果 | hòuguǒ | consequences; aftermath |
| 至今 | zhìjīn | so far; to this day |
Questions about 今后
What does 今后 mean?
今后 (jīnhòu) means "hereafter; henceforth" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 今后?
今后 is made of 2 characters: 今 (4 strokes), 后 (6 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 今后 an HSK word?
Yes. 今后 is on the HSK 2 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 今后 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 今后 is written 今後.
What is the difference between 今后 and 以后 (yǐhòu)?
以后 can mean "later" or "after" a specific event, as in 下课以后 (after class). 今后 always starts from the present moment and points to the whole future from now on. 以后 is also more common in casual speech.
Can I say 今后的 before a noun?
Yes. Add 的 to use it as a modifier, for example 今后的工作 (jīnhòu de gōngzuò), future work or work from now on. Common phrases include 今后的计划 (future plans) and 今后几年 (the next few years).