后边

• Pinyin: hòu bian
• Hanzi breakdown: 后 (behind, after) + 边 (side) — the rear side

Meaning

Behind; at the back; in the rear. A location word indicating the area behind something.

Interchangeable with 后面 in most contexts. 后边 is slightly more colloquial and common in northern dialects. Used after a noun to indicate position: 学校后边 (behind the school).

Examples

1. 你看后边有人吗？ Look, is there anyone behind?
2. 超市在银行后边。 The supermarket is behind the bank.
3. 请坐在后边。 Please sit at the back.

Usage Guide

Context: location, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 图书馆在教学楼后边。(The library is behind the classroom building.)
• 后边还有位子。(There are still seats at the back.)

Don't Say

• 在后边的明天 (后边 is for physical location, not time — use 以后 or 后来 for temporal meaning)

Origin & History

Compound of 后 (behind) and 边 (side, edge) — the side that is behind.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal