HSK Level 2

后来

hòu lái

afterward

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Example Sentences

后来,他去了北京。

Hòulái, tā qùle Běijīng.

Later, he went to Beijing.

后来,她结婚了。

Hòulái, tā jiéhūnle.

Later, she got married.

后来,他们有了孩子。

Hòulái, tāmen yǒule háizi.

Later, they had children.

Synonyms

Antonyms

以前 (yǐqián)

before

过去 (guòqù)

past

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 后来 (hòulái) is composed of two characters: 后 (hòu) and 来 (lái). The character 后 originally meant "back" or "behind", but it has also been used to refer to "later" or "afterwards". The character 来 means "to come" or "to arrive". When these two characters are combined, they form the word 后来, which means "later on" or "afterwards".The word 后来 can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it can be used to refer to a later time in the day, a later event in a series, or a later generation of people. It can also be used to refer to the future.The word 后来 is a common word in Chinese, and it is used in both spoken and written language. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is used in a variety of contexts and can be a useful way to express time and sequence.