What is the Kanji for "After" and "Behind"?
If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for "After" and "Behind", you've come to the right place!
The Japanese Kanji for "After" and "Behind" is "後".
This kanji has 4 readings:
Its kunyomi readings are "Ushi" and "Nochi".
Its onyomi readings are "Go" and "Kou".
kunyomi readings are based on the pronunciation of native Japanese words, and onyomi readings are based on the Chinese pronunciation of the character.
If you visually breakdown this kanji, you can see is made up of 3 parts:
The radical "彳" means "Stop" . The radical "夂" means "Late" . And The radical "幺" means "Slight" .
Now, let's make sure you understand this kanji the other way around too.
What does the kanji "後" mean in japanese?
"後" means "After" and "Behind" .
Japanese School Students learn this kanji in Second Grade, while foreigners may learn this kanji in preparation for the JLPT N5 exam.
Here are some words that use this kanji:
後: "Later". The adverb '後 (あと)' means 'later'. It is used to indicate a point in time that will occur after the current moment or a reference point. '後' can be used to refer to the future or to something that will happen after a specified event. For example: I will eat dinner later - (私はあとで晩ご飯を食べる). Let's meet up later - (後で会いましょう).
最後: "Last" or "End". The noun '最後 (さいご)' means 'last' or 'end'. It refers to the final part, stage, or instance of something. This word is used to describe the concluding part of an event, process, or time period. For example: This is the last chapter of the book - (これは本の最後の章です). I arrived at the end of the party - (私は会の最後に到着しました).
明後日: "The day after tomorrow". The noun '明後日 (あさって)' refers to 'the day after tomorrow'. This is a specific term in Japanese to designate the day following the next day. It is commonly used when talking about plans or schedule. For example: I will visit my grandparents the day after tomorrow - (私は明後日、祖父母を訪ねます).
今後: "Future". The noun '今後 (こんご)' means 'future'. It refers to the time period after the present moment. This word is used to talk about upcoming events, plans, or the time ahead. For example: In the future, I want to travel more - (今後は、もっと旅行したいと思います). The future looks bright - (今後は明るい)
後ろ: "Back". The Japanese noun '後ろ (うしろ)' means 'back'. This noun refers to the rear or posterior part of something. It can be used to describe the location of something behind an object or person. For example: I put the book on the back of the desk - (本を机の後ろに置いた). The dog is running behind the car - (犬が車の後ろを走っている).
戦後: "Postwar". The Japanese noun '戦後 (せんご)' means 'postwar'. It refers to the period after a war, especially the period after World War II in Japan. This term is commonly used to describe the social, economic and political changes that occurred in Japan following the end of the war. For example: The postwar era brought major changes to Japan - (戦後、日本には大きな変化がもたらされた). The postwar Japanese economy grew rapidly - (戦後の日本経済は急速に発展した).
午後: "Afternoon". The Japanese noun '午後 (ごご)' means 'afternoon'. This word is used to refer to the time period between noon and evening, usually starting around 12pm and ending around 6pm. It can be used in expressions like '午後から公園に行きます' (I will go to the park in the afternoon). Some example sentences: Let's meet in the afternoon - (午後に会いましょう). I worked in the afternoon today - (今日は午後に仕事をしました).
前後: "Before and after" or "Surroundings". The Japanese noun '前後 (ぜんご)' has two main meanings. The first meaning is 'before and after', referring to the time or sequence of events surrounding a particular point in time. For example: Before and after the accident - (事故の前後). The second meaning is 'surroundings', referring to the environment or context around something. For example: The surroundings of the house - (家の前後).
以後: "From now on". The Japanese noun '以後 (いご)' means 'from now on'. It is used to indicate a time period starting from the present moment and continuing into the future. This word is often used to express a change or new direction that will take place going forward. For example: From now on, I will study harder - (以後、もっと頑張って勉強します). We will do things differently from now on - (以後、違うことをしていきます).
後半: "Latter half". The Japanese noun '後半 (こうはん)' means 'the latter half'. This refers to the second part or concluding portion of something, such as the second half of a game, event, or time period. It is often used to describe the final stages or conclusion of a process or activity. For example: In the latter half of the match, the team made a comeback - (試合の後半、そのチームが逆転した). The latter half of the year is usually the busiest time - (年の後半は通常が最も忙しい時期だ).
後ろ向き: "Backward". The noun '後ろ向き (うしろむき)' means 'backward'. It describes the direction or orientation of something that is facing or moving towards the opposite direction from the front or the usual direction. For example: He walked backward - (彼は後ろ向きに歩いた). Turning backward - (後ろ向きに回る)
明々後日: "Day after tomorrow". The Japanese noun '明々後日 (しあさって)' means 'the day after tomorrow'. It refers to the day that is two days from the current day. This word is used to indicate a time period that is just a bit further in the future compared to 'tomorrow'. For example: I will see you the day after tomorrow - (明々後日お会いしましょう). We're meeting the day after tomorrow - (明々後日に会うことになっています).
後書き: "Afterword". The Japanese noun '後書き (あとがき)' refers to an afterword or a concluding section to a book or written work. It is placed at the end of the main text and often includes the author's final thoughts, reflections, or commentary on the work. For example: The author included an afterword where she explained her inspiration for the story - (作者は物語への着想を説明する後書きを付けた).
直後: "Immediately after". The noun '直後 (ちょくご)' means 'immediately after'. This word is used to refer to the time period right after a specific event or occurrence. It suggests that something happens or takes place very soon after something else has happened. For example: Immediately after the concert, the crowd left the venue - (コンサート直後、観客は会場を後にした). The meeting will start immediately after lunch - (昼食直後にミーティングが始まる).
背後: "Back". The Japanese noun '背後 (はいご)' means 'back'. It refers to the area or direction behind someone or something. This word can be used to describe the physical location behind a person or object, as well as more abstract ideas of 'from behind' or 'in the background'. For example: There was someone standing in the back - (彼の背後に誰かが立っていた). The enemy attacked from behind - (敵が背後から攻めてきた).
後回し: "Postponement". The noun '後回し (あとまわし)' means 'postponement'. It refers to the act of delaying or putting off doing something until a later time. This word suggests that an important task or decision has been deliberately delayed, often in order to focus on other priorities first. For example: I had to postpone the meeting due to a scheduling conflict - (スケジュールの都合で会議を後回しにしなければならなかった). Putting off difficult decisions is a common form of procrastination - (難しい決断を後回しにするのは、よくあるプロクラスティネーションの一形態)
後者: "Latter". The noun '後者 (こうしゃ)' means 'the latter'. It is used to refer to the second of two things that have been mentioned. For example: Between the two options, I chose the latter - (2つの選択肢の中で、私は後者を選びました).
後戻り: "Going back". The verbal noun '後戻り (あともどり)' means 'going back'. It refers to the action of returning or regressing to a previous state or condition. This word is used to describe situations where someone or something reverts to an earlier stage or undoes progress that has been made. For example: I can't go back now, that would be going backwards - (もう後戻りはできない、それは後戻りになってしまう). I made the mistake of going backwards on my diet - (ダイエットで後戻りしてしまう過ちをした).
後片付け: "Clean up". The verbal noun '後片付け (あとかたづけ)' means 'clean up'. This term refers to the act of cleaning up or tidying up after an event, activity or meal. It describes the process of putting away items, wiping surfaces, and generally restoring order to a space that was previously occupied or used. For example: I need to do the clean up after the party - (パーティーの後片付けをしなければなりません). Let's do the clean up together - (一緒に後片付けをしましょう).
後悔: "Regret". The Japanese verbal noun '後悔 (こうかい)' means 'regret'. It refers to a feeling of sorrow, disappointment or remorse over something that one has done or failed to do. It is often used to express a person's regret over a past action or decision. For example: I regret not studying harder - (もっと頑張って勉強すればよかったと後悔している). Don't live with regrets - (後悔なく生きよう).
後輩: "Junior". The Japanese noun '後輩 (こうはい)' refers to a person who is junior to or has less experience than oneself, usually in a work or school setting. It is often used to refer to younger or less experienced colleagues or underclassmen. For example: My junior at work always asks me for advice - (後輩は仕事でいつも私に相談してくる). I need to help my junior complete this project - (後輩にこのプロジェクトを手伝ってあげなければならない).
死後: "Afterlife". The noun '死後 (しご)' refers to the state or condition of existence after death. It is used to describe the belief that consciousness or the soul continues to exist after the physical body has died. Many religions and spiritual beliefs include concepts of an afterlife, such as heaven, reincarnation, or the underworld. For example: Beliefs about the afterlife vary across cultures - (文化によって死後の世界についての信仰は異なる). What happens in the afterlife is a mystery - (死後の世界のことは謎に包まれている).
後期: "Later period". The Japanese noun '後期 (こうき)' means 'later period'. This word is used to refer to the latter part or final stage of something, such as a stage of life, a historical era, or an academic semester. For example: The later period of the Edo era - (江戸時代の後期). The final semester of the school year - (学年の後期).
後方: "Rear". The noun '後方 (こうほう)' means 'rear'. This word refers to the back or the direction behind something. It can be used to describe the back part or area of an object, place, or movement. For example: The enemy is approaching from the rear - (敵は後方から接近している). Please look behind you - (後方を見てください).
後見: "Guardianship". The noun '後見 (こうけん)' refers to the legal guardianship or custodianship of someone who is incapable of managing their own affairs, such as a minor or an elderly person. It implies a responsibility to protect and care for the person under one's guardianship. For example: The court appointed a guardian to provide 後見 for the elderly man - (裁判所は高齢者のために後見人を指定した).
To make really sure you learn this Kanji, I've prepared an interactive lesson for you. You are going to learn the readings and meanings of this kanji.
But first, you need to know a little bit about Hiragana and Katakana.
Hiragana and katakana are japanese syllabaries, this means that each character represents a syllable.
This are the characters you need to know for this lesson:
The hiragana "ご" is read as "go". The hiragana "こ" is read as "ko". The hiragana "う" is read as "u". The hiragana "し" is read as "shi". The hiragana "の" is read as "no". And The hiragana "ち" is read as "chi".
