以后 (after a specific time)

• 拼音: yǐhòu
• 结构: Time / Verb Phrase + 以后, + Sentence
• 汉字拆解: 以 = 人 (person) variant + dot; 后 = 彳 (step) + 幺 (small) + 夊 (walk slowly)

含义

The word 以后 (yǐhòu) is placed after a time expression or a verb phrase to indicate that something happens after that point. It is equivalent to English 'after' or 'from now on.'

以后 can follow either a specific time word (like 三点, 明天) or a verb phrase (like 吃完饭, 下课) to mark the starting point of a subsequent action. When used with a verb phrase, it creates a 'once X happens, then Y' structure. Note that 以后 used alone at the start of a sentence means 'in the future' or 'from now on.' Do not confuse 以后 with 之后 (zhīhòu), which is more formal and literary. In spoken Chinese, 以后 is far more common. The clause after 以后 describes what happens next and usually does not need any additional conjunction.

例句

1. 吃完饭以后，我们去散步吧。
2. 毕业以后她打算去上海工作。
3. 下午三点以后我才有空。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: descriptive

正确说法

• 下课以后我们一起去吃饭。
• 到了北京以后记得给我打电话。
• 六月以后天气会越来越热。
• 以后我们要多联系。

错误说法

• 以后吃完饭我们去散步。(以后 should follow the time or verb phrase it modifies, not precede it — move 以后 after 吃完饭) → 吃完饭以后我们去散步。
• 我吃饭以后了去公园。(Do not insert 了 between 以后 and the following clause — 以后 already marks the time boundary) → 我吃饭以后去公园。
• 他以后三点才来。(When specifying a clock time, 以后 must follow the time word, not come before it) → 他三点以后才来。

起源与历史

以后 literally combines 以 (by means of, using) and 后 (after, behind). The compound has been used since classical Chinese to denote posterior time, and remains one of the most common temporal markers in modern Mandarin.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal