後
あと
hepburn ato
after, later, behind
Part of speech · noun
Pattern visualization
Examples
- 食事の後にデザートを食べます。I have dessert after meals.
- 彼の後ろに立っています。I am standing behind him.
Collocations
後 (ato, after / behind)後で (atode, later)前 (mae, before / front)後ろ (ushiro, behind)後ほど (nochihodo, later formal)
Mnemonic
Ato (後) is the noun "after / behind" — merging time (after ~) and space (behind ~). The kanji 後 has multiple readings: ato (time / general noun, conversational), ushiro (spatial behind, conversational), go / nochi (time, formal / written). "Shokuji no ato / nochi" both work; conversation prefers ato, writing nochi. Kare no ushiro is spatial only. Formal nochi hodo (after a while, business "later"). Antonym mae (前, before / front). Korean "dwi / hu / dwitjjok / chuhu" maps one-to-one onto Japanese's four readings — chart kanji + reading + meaning. ~atode (after doing ~) is a time-clause expression. Atode (later) is a separate entry adverb.
Quick check
Polite business "I will contact you later"?