之后
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 4 (2021)
之后 (zhīhòu) · after
之后 (zhīhòu) means “after; afterwards; later”. It is written with 2 characters: 之 (of (formal 的)) + 后 (behind). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 之后 is built
The characters
之 zhī · of (formal 的)
What 之 is made of
- 丶 — dot
Origin hint: A foot meaning "to follow"; cursive version of 止 (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
后 hòu · behind
What 后 is made of
- 口kǒu — mouth
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 一 — horizontal stroke
- 冂 — frame
Example sentences
吃完饭之后我们去散步。Chī wán fàn zhīhòu wǒmen qù sànbù.After dinner we'll go for a walk.
下课之后你去哪儿？Xiàkè zhīhòu nǐ qù nǎr?Where are you going after class?
Questions about 之后
What does 之后 mean?
之后 (zhīhòu) means “after; afterwards; later”.
How do you pronounce 之后?
之后 is pronounced zhīhòu.
Which HSK level is 之后?
之后 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 4 (2021).
Related words
- 分之fēnzhī(fraction) …分之…, e.g. 三分之一 one third
- 之间zhījiānbetween
- 之前zhīqiánbefore
- 之一zhīyīone of
- 总之zǒngzhīin short
- 百分之bǎi fēn zhīpercent
- 当务之急dāngwùzhījímost urgent task
- 反之fǎnzhīconversely
- 后顾之忧hòugùzhīyōuworries back home
- 天伦之乐tiānlúnzhīlèfamily happiness
Learn 之后 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 48: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.