此后

The Chinese word 此后 is composed of two characters: 此 and 后. 此 means "this" or "here", while 后 means "after" or "later". Together, they form the word 此后, which means "after this" or "from now on".The character 此 is first attested in oracle bone script, the earliest known form of Chinese writing, dating back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC). It was originally a pictograph of a hand pointing to something, and it has retained this meaning in modern Chinese.The character 后 is also first attested in oracle bone script. It was originally a pictograph of a person standing with their back to the viewer, and it has retained this meaning in modern Chinese.The word 此后 is first attested in written Chinese in the Spring and Autumn period (771–476 BC). It was used in a variety of contexts, including to refer to the future, to mark the beginning of a new era, and to indicate a change in circumstances.In modern Chinese, 此后 is still used in a variety of contexts. It is often used to refer to the future, but it can also be used to mark the beginning of a new era or to indicate a change in circumstances. For example, the sentence 此后，中国将进入一个新的时代 means "From now on, China will enter a new era."The word 此后 is a common word in Chinese, and it is important for HSK learners to be familiar with its meaning and usage.