後 Kanji: Meaning, Readings and Stroke Order

後: after; behind; later; subsequent. JLPT N5; 9 strokes.

Readings

On readings

ゴ、コウ

Kun readings

のち、うし.ろ、あと、おく.れる

Romaji

go, kou, nochi, ushiro, ato, okureru

Study notes

後 indicates what comes after in time and what is behind in space.

On readings: ゴ in 午後 (ごご, afternoon), 最後 (さいご, last, end), 今後 (こんご, from now on), 以後 (いご, from then on), 前後 (ぜんご, before and after; about). コウ in 後半 (こうはん, second half), 後輩 (こうはい, younger companion, the opposite of senpai), 後悔 (こうかい, regret), 後者 (こうしゃ, last one).

Kun readings: あと, 'after, later' (後で, later; 後回し=あとまわし, delay). うしろ, 'behind' (後ろ, the back part; 後ろ姿=うしろすがた, figure seen from behind). のち, 'subsequently', more formal; in weather forecasts 晴れのち雨 means 'sunny, then rain'. おくれる (後れる, fall behind): in the sense of 'being late' it is usually written as 遅れる.

Special readings: 明後日 (あさって, day after tomorrow) is read as a whole word.

Remember: 後 alone can be read あと or のち, and うしろ with the okurigana ろ (後ろ): context decides. The opposite is 前 (まえ).

Example words

• 午後 (ごご) — afternoon; p.m.
• 後半 (こうはん) — second half
• 後で (あとで) — later; afterward
• 後ろ (うしろ) — behind

Example sentences

店の後ろに車があります。

mise no ushiro ni kuruma ga arimasu.

There is a car behind the shop.

Stroke order

Follow the steps in order. Each new stroke is highlighted.

Stroke paths: KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0. Sequential diagrams derived from the original paths.