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后面 (hòu miàn) — (position) behind; at the back; the back side; (time) later; afterwards

Definition

Covers BOTH space ('behind / at the back') and time ('later, afterwards'). Use 后 for short spatial phrases; use 以后 / 后来 / 之后 when the focus is purely on time.

noun
(position) behindat the backthe back side(time) laterafterwards

Examples

  • 后面。
    Wǒ de shū bāo zài mén hòu miàn.
    My backpack is behind the door.
  • ，后面。
    Nǐ xiān jìn qù, wǒ hòu miàn zài zǒu.
    Go in first; I'll go later.
  • 后面。
    Tā zhàn zài wǒ hòu miàn.
    He is standing behind me.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

后hòuback
面miànside

后 'back' and 面 'side' together point to the rear side.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 後; 后 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 後 showed 夊 (foot) bound by 幺 (thread), a foot caught by a rope and lagging behind; the simplified 后 is a later abbreviation, and 后 also has a different meaning.

Open 后 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

面 originally drew a man’s face, with one eye exaggerated; the horizontal stroke was added later.

Open 面 →
Appears in
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