后来

hòu lái

HSK 2.0 Level 4 HSK 3.0 Level 3 Noun Common

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Word relationships

Antonyms

1 item

• 起初 qǐ chū 起初 qǐ chū originally 起初 means 'at first', contrasting with 后来 'later on': originally

Related words

2 items

• 然后 rán hòu 然后 rán hòu then; after that; afterwards 后来 refers to a later point in a past sequence, while 然后 is more general 'then': then; after that; afterwards
• 以后 yǐ hòu 以后 yǐ hòu after 以后 can refer to future or past, 后来 is only for past: after

Usage notes

Common mistakes

后来 is only used for past events; do not use it for future sequences.

Example Sentences

2 shown

我们 后来 去了公园。

We later went to the park.

他原本是老师， 后来 成了作家。

He was originally a teacher and later became a writer.

AI-generated examples are marked with this icon.

Words Containing 后来

• 后来居上 后来居上 hòu lái jū shàng: the pupil surpasses the master

Child Words of 后来

• 来 来 lái: to come
• 后 后 hòu: empress