後
behind · back · later
Details
Stroke Order
Component Breakdown
彳 + 幺 + go slowly
Cultural Context
Etymology
Composed of '彳' (go), '幺' (thread), '夊' (foot). Dragging feet, falling behind.
Symbolism
Future, next, behind. Represents 'after' in both time and space.
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
空前絶後
くうぜんぜつご
(so marvelous or horrible that it may be) the first and probably the last; (so marvelous or horrible that it may be) the first and probably the last
後生大事
ごしょうだいじ
with religious zeal; with utmost devotion; take great care of; with religious zeal
事後承諾
じごしょうだく
ex-post-facto approval; ex-post-facto approval
前後不覚
ぜんごふかく
unconsciousness; having no recollection of one's actions; unconsciousness
最後通牒
さいごつうちょう
ultimatum; ultimatum
鶏口牛後
けいこうぎゅうご
better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull; better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a large organization; better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond; better to be the beak of a rooster than the rump of a bull
先憂後楽
せんゆうこうらく
worrying before one's people worry, enjoying oneself only after one's people have enjoyed themselves (a precept to be observed by a ruler); worrying before one's people worry, enjoying oneself only after one's people have enjoyed themselves (a precept to be observed by a ruler)
面従後言
めんじゅうこうげん
pretending to obey someone to his face but badmouthing him behind his back; pretending to obey someone to his face but badmouthing him behind his back
後生可畏
こうせいかい
the young should be regarded with respect; the young should be regarded with respect
前虎後狼
ぜんここうろう
one calamity followed close on the heels of another; out of the frying pan into the fire; tiger in front, wolf in the back; one calamity followed close on the heels of another
善後処置
ぜんごしょち
remedial measure; settlement (of matters); dealing with the aftermath; remedial measure
前後矛盾
ぜんごむじゅん
self-contradiction; self-inconsistency; self-contradiction
後の祭り
あとのまつり
After the festival; Too late, missing the opportunity
Proverbs & Idioms
後悔先に立たず
こうかいさきにたたず
Regret comes too late
It is too late to regret after the fact
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 後 mean in Japanese?
後 means behind, back, later.
How do you read 後?
On'yomi: ゴ、コウ (GO, KOU). Kun'yomi: のち、うし.ろ、うしろ、あと、おく.れる (nochi, ushiro, ushiro, ato, okureru).
How many strokes does 後 have?
後 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 彳 (step).
Is 後 a good kanji for a tattoo?
Yes. 後 (behind, back, later) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.
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