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.
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.
面miànface
面 is a single shape of 9 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
Memory aidDrawn from a face inside its outline.
How to write 后面
后 6 strokes · 面 9 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 后面 (hòumiàn). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
后面 (hòumiàn) means “back, behind” or “the rear”. It is an HSK 1 word, so it is one of the words learners meet early.
Say it hòumiàn: hòu with a 4th tone, then miàn 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, 后面 is written 後面. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type houmian with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 后面 from the suggestions. Typing houmian into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
后面 is an HSK 1 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.
后hòu4th tone, falling
