Meaning of 落后
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to fall behind
- to lag (in technology etc)
- backward
- to retrogress
How to use 落后
落后 works as a verb meaning to fall behind, and as an adjective meaning backward or underdeveloped. It often describes technology, regions, ideas, or a student's progress. Example: 他的成绩落后了。(Tā de chéngjì luòhòu le.) His grades have fallen behind.
落 (luò) means to fall or drop, and 后 (hòu) means behind. If you fall back and end up behind everyone else, you have 落后.
Common mistake: Learners sometimes read 落 as là or lào, which are other readings of this character, but in 落后 it is always luò with the fourth tone. Also, do not confuse 落后 (falling behind) with 最后 (zuìhòu, last or finally), which has nothing to do with lagging.
落后 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.
落 luò · to fall or drop · 12 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
后 hòu · back · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
Related words
Words that share a character with 落后.
| 最后 | zuìhòu | final; last; ultimate; finally; in the end |
| 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 |
| 今后 | jīnhòu | hereafter; henceforth |
| 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 |
| 前后 | qiánhòu | around; from beginning to end |
| 后年 | hòunián | the year after next |
Questions about 落后
What does 落后 mean?
落后 (luòhòu) means "to fall behind; to lag (in technology etc)".
How do you write 落后?
落后 is made of 2 characters: 落 (12 strokes), 后 (6 strokes). That is 18 strokes in total.
Is 落后 an HSK word?
Yes. 落后 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 落后 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 落后 is written 落後.
How do I say someone is behind another person or thing with 落后?
Use 落后于 or 比...落后. For example, 我们落后于他们 (wǒmen luòhòu yú tāmen) means we are behind them. You can also say 落后别人 (luòhòu biérén), to fall behind others.
Is it rude to call a place or person 落后?
It can sound negative, because as an adjective it means backward or underdeveloped. When talking about places, people often choose softer phrases like 不发达 (bù fādá), not developed.