此后

• Pinyin: cǐ hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 此 (this) + 后 (after)

Meaning

After this; hereafter; from then on.

A formal way to indicate the time following a specific event or point. Common in written Chinese, news reports, and formal narratives. More literary than 以后 or 之后.

Examples

1. 那次事故之后，他再也没有开过车，此后一直坐公交。 After that accident, he never drove again and has taken the bus ever since.
2. 公司改革之后效益大增，此后连续五年盈利。 After the company reform, profits increased significantly, and it has been profitable for five consecutive years since then.
3. 此后的发展证明了他的判断是正确的。 Subsequent developments proved that his judgment was correct.

Usage Guide

Context: written language, narratives, formal reports

Tone: literary

Do Say

• 此后他就消失了。(After that, he disappeared.)
• 此后再也没见过面。(We never met again after that.)

Don't Say

• 口语中说'此后我去吃饭了'太书面——日常对话用'然后'或'之后'更自然 (Saying 此后我去吃饭了 is too formal for speech — use 然后 or 之后 in daily conversation)

Origin & History

Compound of 此 (this) + 后 (after), meaning after this point in time.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal