We should read the newspaper so we don’t fall behind the times.
Sentence #5576845 from Tatoeba · converted to simplified characters · translation adapted
How 落后 is built
Each colour is one part of the character. Parts repeat across thousands of characters, so learning them makes new words easier. See all 214 in our radicals chart.
落luòto fall or drop
艹grass form of 艸 · cǎoMeaning part
洛a river in the Shanxi province · luòSound part
艹 hints at the meaning (grass); 洛 (luò) hints at the sound. Compare it with luò.
后hòuempress
后 is a single shape of 6 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidIts first meaning was “queen”. As a simplified character it also stands for 後: behind, after.
How to write 落后
落 12 strokes · 后 6 strokes
Watch the order, then press Try writing it and draw each stroke in the grid. Each stroke is checked as you go.
Stroke order chart for 落后 (luòhòu). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
落后 (luòhòu) means “to fall behind” or “backward”. It is an HSK 5 word.
Say it luòhòu: luò with a 4th tone, then hòu with a 4th tone. Press Listen at the top of this page to hear it, or Slowly to hear each tone clearly.
In Traditional characters, used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, 落后 is written 落後. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type luohou with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 落后 from the suggestions. Typing luohou into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
落后 is an HSK 5 word in the HSK 2.0 word lists.
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Sources: meaning and pinyin checked by a native Mandarin teacher against the official HSK lists. Extra meanings from CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0). Example sentences from Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR). Character parts and stroke order from Make Me a Hanzi.
落luò4th tone, falling
