Sentence #12420205 from Tatoeba · translation adapted
How 之后 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.
之zhīhim
之 is a single shape of 3 strokes. Learn it whole, then watch its stroke order below.
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 之后
之 3 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 之后 (zhīhòu). Red marks the next stroke, so you can copy it onto paper one step at a time.
之后 (zhīhòu) means “after” or “afterwards”. It is an HSK 3.0 Level 4 word.
Say it zhīhòu: zhī with a 1st 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, 之后 is written 之後. The pronunciation is the same.
Add a Chinese (Simplified) pinyin keyboard to your phone or computer, type zhihou with no tone marks or spaces, then choose 之后 from the suggestions. Typing zhihou into this dictionary’s search box finds it too.
之后 is an HSK 3.0 Level 4 word in the official 2021 syllabus, and it is on our HSK 3.0 Band 6 word list. It is not on the older 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.
之zhī1st tone, high and level
后hòu4th tone, falling
