When using 之后 (zhī hòu), you're indicating an event or time that follows another. Think of it like saying 'afterwards' or 'subsequently' in English. It's quite versatile and can refer to a period of time or a specific action.
For example, you can say 吃饭之后 (chī fàn zhī hòu) to mean 'after eating,' or 他走了之后 (tā zǒu le zhī hòu) to mean 'after he left.' It clearly establishes a sequence of events.
“之后” is used to indicate something happened later than a specific time or event. It is a very common word, similar to "after" in English. For example, you might say "吃饭之后" (after eating). It can also be used to show a sequence of events. The meaning is quite straightforward and doesn't usually cause confusion.
§ Basic Usage of 之后 (zhī hòu)
The Chinese word 之后 (zhī hòu) means "after" or "subsequent to." It's a very common and practical word for talking about sequences of events. Think of it like saying "after that" or "following this" in English.
- Structure
- [Event/Time] 之后
This structure is straightforward. You put the event or time that something happens *before* 之后 (zhī hòu).
吃饭之后我们去看电影。
Translation hint: After eating, we will go watch a movie. (吃饭 - to eat, 我们 - we, 去 - to go, 看电影 - to watch a movie)
两年之后他毕业了。
Translation hint: He graduated two years later. (两年 - two years, 他 - he, 毕业 - to graduate)
§ Using 之后 with Clauses
You can also use 之后 (zhī hòu) with an entire clause (a mini-sentence) to indicate that one action happens after another.
- Structure
- [Clause 1] 之后, [Clause 2]
This is useful when you want to connect two complete thoughts sequentially.
我下了班之后会回家做饭。
Translation hint: After I get off work, I will go home to cook. (我 - I, 下了班 - get off work, 会 - will, 回家 - go home, 做饭 - cook)
他看完书之后就睡觉了。
Translation hint: After he finished reading the book, he went to sleep. (他 - he, 看完书 - finish reading a book, 就 - then/immediately, 睡觉 - sleep)
§ 之后 vs. 以后 (yǐ hòu)
You might also encounter 以后 (yǐ hòu), which also means "after" or "later." While they are often interchangeable, there's a subtle difference to keep in mind.
之后 (zhī hòu) tends to focus on a specific, immediate follow-up to an action or event. It can refer to both past and future events.
以后 (yǐ hòu) can also refer to a specific follow-up, but it's more commonly used for a general "in the future" or a broader sense of "afterward." It often has a stronger connotation of what will happen in the future from a certain point.
Let's look at examples to make this clearer:
会议之后请大家讨论。
Translation hint: After the meeting, everyone please discuss. (会议 - meeting, 请 - please, 大家 - everyone, 讨论 - discuss). Here, 之后 (zhī hòu) emphasizes the immediate action following the meeting.
你毕业以后有什么打算？
Translation hint: What are your plans after you graduate? (你 - you, 毕业 - graduate, 有什么打算 - what plans do you have). Here, 以后 (yǐ hòu) is more about future plans generally after graduation.
§ Key Takeaways
之后 (zhī hòu) means "after" or "subsequent to."
It always comes *after* the event or time it refers to.
You can use it with nouns/phrases or entire clauses.
While similar to 以后 (yǐ hòu), 之后 (zhī hòu) often implies a more direct or immediate follow-up to an action or event.
Practice using 之后 (zhī hòu) in your own sentences. The more you use it, the more natural it will become. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; that's how you learn!
Tipps
之后 vs. 然后: Order
While both 之后 (zhīhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu) can mean 'after' or 'then', 之后 usually refers to a time or event that has already happened, or a time relative to a specific point. 然后 typically connects two actions in sequence. Think of 之后 as 'subsequent to' and 然后 as 'next in line'.
之后 as a Time Phrase
之后 can be used to specify a time relative to a particular event or period. For example, 晚饭之后 (wǎnfàn zhīhòu) means 'after dinner'. 工作之后 (gōngzuò zhīhòu) means 'after work'.
之后 with Specific Time
You can combine 之后 with a specific time. For example, 十点之后 (shí diǎn zhīhòu) means 'after 10 o'clock'. 毕业之后 (bìyè zhīhòu) means 'after graduation'.
之后 at the End of a Sentence
之后 can appear at the end of a clause or sentence to indicate 'after that'. For example, 他吃完饭之后就走了 (Tā chī wán fàn zhīhòu jiù zǒu le). 'He left after he finished eating'.
之后 for 'Later On'
Sometimes 之后 can simply mean 'later' or 'afterwards' without specifying a particular event. For example, 之后我们再去看看吧 (Zhīhòu wǒmen zài qù kànkan ba). 'Let's go take a look later'.
之后 as a Noun
Although it often functions like an adverbial phrase, think of 之后 as a time-related noun or noun phrase in this context (CEFR A1). It directly follows the event or time it refers to.
之后 in Questions
You can use 之后 to ask 'after what?' or 'what happens next?'. For example, 吃饭之后做什么？(Chī fàn zhīhòu zuò shénme?) 'What do you do after eating?'
Don't Confuse with 在...之后
While you might see 在...之后 (zài...zhīhòu), for A1 learners, focusing on just [event/time] 之后 is sufficient and common. The 在 is often implied or optional.
Practice with Daily Routines
Practice using 之后 with your daily routine. '起床之后' (qǐchuáng zhīhòu - after waking up), '上班之后' (shàngbān zhīhòu - after going to work), '睡觉之后' (shuìjiào zhīhòu - after sleeping).
之后 vs. 后
While 后 (hòu) can also mean 'after', 之后 is generally more common and versatile for expressing 'after an event' or 'subsequent to'. At A1, stick with 之后 for clarity when referring to time or event sequence.
Teste dich selbst 36 Fragen
After eating, I will go to the store.
After we study, we will watch a movie.
After class, I go to the library.
Read this aloud:
你睡觉之后做什么？
Focus: zhī hòu
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Read this aloud:
他工作之后回家。
Focus: gōng zuò zhī hòu
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Read this aloud:
聚会之后，我们很开心。
Focus: jù huì zhī hòu
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What did they do after eating?
Where did the students go after class?
What did he decide to do after graduation?
Read this aloud:
你锻炼之后，感觉怎么样？
Focus: 之后 (zhī hòu)
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Read this aloud:
我到家之后，会给你打电话。
Focus: 之后 (zhī hòu)
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Read this aloud:
学习中文之后，我的生活变得更丰富了。
Focus: 之后 (zhī hòu)
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Write a short paragraph about what you usually do after work or school.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我下班之后，喜欢回家做饭。吃完饭，我会看一会儿书，然后睡觉。
Describe a short sequence of events using '之后'. For example, what you did after waking up today.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我今天起床之后，先刷牙洗脸，然后吃早饭。吃完早饭之后，我就去上班了。
Imagine you are planning a trip. Write two sentences describing what you will do after arriving at your destination.
Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.
Sample answer
我们到达酒店之后，会先去房间放行李。之后，我们计划去参观当地的博物馆。
小明在出国留学之前做了什么？
Read this passage:
小明大学毕业之后，找到了一份很好的工作。他工作了一年之后，决定出国留学。
小明在出国留学之前做了什么？
文章中提到小明大学毕业之后找到了工作，工作了一年之后才决定出国留学，所以三个选项都是他留学前做的事情。
文章中提到小明大学毕业之后找到了工作，工作了一年之后才决定出国留学，所以三个选项都是他留学前做的事情。
小红什么时候开始练习写汉字？
Read this passage:
上完中文课之后，老师让大家回家练习写汉字。小红回到家，吃完晚饭之后就开始练习了。
小红什么时候开始练习写汉字？
文章明确说明小红回到家，吃完晚饭之后才开始练习。
文章明确说明小红回到家，吃完晚饭之后才开始练习。
在把文件送到李经理办公室之前，你需要做什么？
Read this passage:
请你把这个文件打印出来，之后送到李经理的办公室。他需要尽快看到。
在把文件送到李经理办公室之前，你需要做什么？
根据句子“请你把这个文件打印出来，之后送到李经理的办公室”，打印文件是送文件之前的动作。
根据句子“请你把这个文件打印出来，之后送到李经理的办公室”，打印文件是送文件之前的动作。
她决定完成学业，_______ 再考虑出国。
“之后”在这里表示在一个动作发生后，接下来的另一个动作，符合语境。
会议_______，他们一起去吃了午饭。
“之后”表示会议结束，在这件事情发生之后。
请在您填写完表格_______，将其提交给前台。
句意是填写完表格的后续动作，所以应该用“之后”。
这句话“他下班之后就去健身了”表示他下班前去健身了。
“之后”表示动作发生在下班这个时间点之后。
“我们吃完饭之后，再出去散步吧。”这句话是正确的。
这句话符合“之后”的用法，表示在吃饭这个动作完成之后。
“我洗手之后才吃饭”表示先吃饭再洗手。
“之后”表示洗手这个动作完成后才吃饭，顺序是洗手在前，吃饭在后。
Think about what happened after eating.
Consider the effect of the rain.
How did the speaker feel after the interview?
Read this aloud:
开会之后，请把文件整理好。
Focus: 之后 (zhī hòu)
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
毕业之后，你有什么计划？
Focus: 毕业 (bì yè)
Du hast gesagt:
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Read this aloud:
看了这部电影之后，我深有感触。
Focus: 感触 (gǎn chù)
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公司裁员的传闻闹得沸沸扬扬，大家都在猜测接下来会发生什么。果不其然，董事会开会决定了未来的发展方向，随后便公布了重组方案。请问，“之后”在这里指代什么？
这里的“之后”紧跟着“董事会开会决定了未来的发展方向”，表示在该事件发生之后公布了重组方案。
面对前所未有的挑战，团队成员们通宵达旦地工作，终于在最后期限前完成了任务。项目成功验收之后，他们才得以放松片刻，享受来之不易的胜利。以下哪个选项最能体现“之后”在这里的含义？
“项目成功验收之后”明确表示是在项目验收这个动作完成之后才得以放松。
那场突如其来的暴风雨，将整个城市搅得天翻地覆，交通中断，电力供应也受到了严重影响。暴风雨平息之后，救援人员立即展开了各项紧急抢险工作。下列哪项最能概括“之后”所指的时间点？
“暴风雨平息之后”直接表明时间点在暴风雨结束、恢复平静之后。
在“他完成了所有学业之后，选择出国深造”这句话中，“之后”指的是“他选择出国深造”这个动作的完成。
“之后”指的是“他完成了所有学业”这个动作的完成，之后才选择出国深造。
“经历了长期的谈判之后，双方终于达成了一致”这句话里的“之后”表示谈判还在进行中。
“之后”表示谈判已经结束，并且双方已经达成了一致，是一个动作完成的标志。
“会议结束之后，请大家提交各自的报告”这句话中的“之后”表明报告提交发生在会议结束之前。
“之后”明确表示报告提交是在会议结束这个动作发生之后。
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之后 vs. 然后: Order
While both 之后 (zhīhòu) and 然后 (ránhòu) can mean 'after' or 'then', 之后 usually refers to a time or event that has already happened, or a time relative to a specific point. 然后 typically connects two actions in sequence. Think of 之后 as 'subsequent to' and 然后 as 'next in line'.
之后 as a Time Phrase
之后 can be used to specify a time relative to a particular event or period. For example, 晚饭之后 (wǎnfàn zhīhòu) means 'after dinner'. 工作之后 (gōngzuò zhīhòu) means 'after work'.
之后 with Specific Time
You can combine 之后 with a specific time. For example, 十点之后 (shí diǎn zhīhòu) means 'after 10 o'clock'. 毕业之后 (bìyè zhīhòu) means 'after graduation'.
之后 at the End of a Sentence
之后 can appear at the end of a clause or sentence to indicate 'after that'. For example, 他吃完饭之后就走了 (Tā chī wán fàn zhīhòu jiù zǒu le). 'He left after he finished eating'.
Beispiel
晚饭之后，我们去散步了。
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