滞后

• Pinyin: zhì hòu
• Hanzi breakdown: 滞 = 氵+ 带 (water + belt — stuck flow); 后 = behind

Meaning

To lag behind; delayed; trailing. Failing to keep pace with development or expectations.

Used in economics (经济滞后), technology (技术滞后), and policy (政策滞后). 滞后效应 (lag effect) is a technical term. Implies a gap between where something is and where it should be.

Examples

1. 基础设施建设滞后严重制约了当地经济发展。 Lagging infrastructure has seriously constrained local economic development.
2. 这项法规已经滞后于时代，亟需修订完善。 This regulation has fallen behind the times and urgently needs to be revised and improved.
3. 由于信息滞后，投资者错过了最佳入市时机。 Because the information arrived too late, investors missed the best time to enter the market.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, policy, development

Tone: critical

Do Say

• 教育改革的步伐不能滞后于社会发展的需求。(The pace of educational reform cannot lag behind the needs of social development.)
• 数据传输存在几秒钟的滞后，请耐心等待。(There is a few seconds' lag in data transmission — please be patient.)

Don't Say

• 我上班滞后了 — use 迟到 for being late; 滞后 is for systemic or structural lagging, not personal tardiness

Origin & History

滞 (stagnate/stuck) + 后 (behind)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal