Chinese word

落后

Pronunciation

Pinyinluò hòu

Meaning

  • verbfall behind

Example

他在学习上已经落后很多了。tā zài xué xí shàng yǐ jīng luò hòu hěn duō le

He has already fallen far behind in his studies.

Illustration for 落后 (fall behind)

More examples

项目进度因资金不足落后了一个月。xiàng mù jìn dù yīn zī jīn bù zú luò hòu le yí gè yuè

The project is one month behind schedule because of insufficient funding.

Core concept

Stays at a lower position or level while others move ahead.

Common phrases

  • 在技术方面落后zài jì shù fāng miàn luò hòu

    lag behind in technology

  • 比计划落后bǐ jì huà luò hòu

    fall behind schedule

  • 比别人落后bǐ bié rén luò hòu

    fall behind others

Similar words

跟不上gēn bú shàng: Fail to keep pace with a person, activity, or changing situation.
赶不上gǎn bú shàng: Fail to catch up in time or reach a required speed, deadline, or target.
滞后zhì hòu: Lag in progress, development, or movement, causing a delay.

Definition in Chinese

位于别人或标准之后，未达到相同的速度或水平，常用来描述发展、学习或技术方面的差距。wèi yú bié rén huò biāo zhǔn zhī hòu wèi dá dào xiāng tóng de sù dù huò shuǐ píng cháng yòng lái miáo shù fā zhǎn xué xí huò jì shù fāng miàn de chā jù

Word origin

落后 (luòhòu, "fall behind") combines 落 (luò, "drop") + 后 (hòu, "behind"), linking a loss of ground with a position at the rear.

Usage tips

  • Native English speakers may first connect this word with a learner or race, but Chinese also uses it for regions, technology, and fields of study whose level is behind a standard.

Other meanings

  • backwardnessnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word