Japanese word

後

Pronunciation

Romajiato

Meaning

  • nounlater, after

Example

後で勉強します。ato de ben kyō shi ma su

I will study later.

Illustration for 後 (later)

More examples

学校の後に公園で遊びます。gak kō no ato ni kō en de aso bi ma su

I play at the park after school.

授業の後で、友達と話します。ju gyō no ato de tomo dachi to hana shi ma su

I talk with my friend after class.

Core concept

The noun 後 (ato, "later") places an action or event beyond a time boundary, so it can mean either "after" or "later."

Common phrases

  • 後でato de

    later

  • その後so no ato

    after that

  • 後からato ka ra

    afterwards

Similar words

後ほどnochihodo: A polite expression for a time later than the present moment.
後日gojitsu: A later date or time, often referring to another day.
以後igo: The time after a stated point, continuing from then onward.

Definition in Japanese

ある時点や出来事よりも後の時間。a ru ji ten ya de ki goto yo ri mo ato no ji kan

Word origin

後 (ato, "later") is a native Japanese noun rather than a Sino-Japanese compound, and 後 is the kanji used for the idea of what comes afterward.

Usage tips

  • 後で (ato de) often appears in conversation when a speaker postpones an action, as in saying that something will happen later rather than now.

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word