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先后 (xiān hòu) — Chinese word meaning

HSK 5

先后 (xiān hòu) is a Chinese word: successively, one after another. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.

Meaning of 先后

副 fù adverb

successively, one after another

学生们先后发表了自己的意见。

xué shēng men xiān hòu fā biǎo le zì jǐ de yì jiàn

The students expressed their opinions one after another.

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Word breakdown

先 xiān — first, earlier

Words with this character (15)
Show more (+10)

后 hòu — after, later

Words with this character (43)
Show more (+38)
  • 6 最后 zuì hòu — final, last HSK 3
    • 最 most, superlative degree marker
    • 后 after, behind, later
    Example

    最后，我想说声谢谢大家。

    zuì hòu wǒ xiǎng shuō shēng xiè xie dà jiā

    Finally, I want to say thank you to everyone.

  • 7 然后 rán hòu — then HSK 3
    • 然 so, thus, in this way
    • 后 after, afterwards
    Example

    我先吃饭，然后去学校。

    wǒ xiān chī fàn rán hòu qù xué xiào

    I'll eat first, then go to school.

  • 8 之后 zhī hòu — after HSK 4
    • 之 classical linking particle connecting to the temporal concept
    • 后 after, later (provides the temporal meaning)
    Example

    毕业之后他去了北京工作。

    bì yè zhī hòu tā qù le běi jīng gōng zuò

    After graduation, he went to Beijing to work.

  • 9 今后 jīn hòu — from now on HSK 4
    • 今 now, present
    • 后 after, later
    Example

    今后我会更加努力学习。

    jīn hòu wǒ huì gèng jiā nǔ lì xué xí

    From now on I will study even harder.

  • 10 前后 qián hòu — front and back; before and after; around HSK 4
    • 前 front; before (represents the earlier part or beginning)
    • 后 back; after (represents the later part or end)
    Example

    这件事前后花了三个月时间。

    zhè jiàn shì qián hòu huā le sān gè yuè shí jiān

    This matter took around three months in total.

  • 11 后悔 hòu huǐ — regret HSK 4
    • 后 after, later (indicating retrospection)
    • 悔 regret, remorse
    Example

    我后悔当时没有听你的建议。

    wǒ hòu huǐ dāng shí méi yǒu tīng nǐ de jiàn yì

    I regret not listening to your advice at that time.

  • 12 后果 hòu guǒ — consequence HSK 5
    • 后 after, later (what comes after)
    • 果 result, outcome (the fruit or product)
    Example

    你要考虑这个决定的后果。

    nǐ yào kǎo lǜ zhè ge jué dìng de hòu guǒ

    You need to consider the consequences of this decision.

  • 13 此后 cǐ hòu — after this, hereafter HSK 5
    • 此 this (reference point in time)
    • 后 after, later (temporal succession)
    Example

    此后他再也没有回过家乡。

    cǐ hòu tā zài yě méi yǒu huí guò jiā xiāng

    After this, he never returned to his hometown.

  • 14 背后 bèi hòu — behind HSK 5
    • 背 back (rear side)
    • 后 behind (spatial position to the rear)
    Example

    他背后有一个人。

    tā bèi hòu yǒu yí gè rén

    There is a person behind him.

  • 15 随后 suí hòu — afterwards HSK 5
    • 随 following, along with (indicates sequence)
    • 后 after, later (indicates temporal succession)
    Example

    他吃完饭，随后去散步了。

    tā chī wán fàn suí hòu qù sàn bù le

    He finished eating, then went for a walk.

  • 16 事后 shì hòu — afterwards, after the event HSK 6
    • 事 event, matter, affair
    • 后 after, behind
    Example

    事后他才意识到自己的错误。

    shì hòu tā cái yì shí dào zì jǐ de cuò wù

    Only afterwards did he realize his mistake.

  • 17 后人 hòu rén — descendants HSK 6
    • 后 later, after (in time)
    • 人 people, person
    Example

    后人会记住他的贡献。

    hòu rén huì jì zhù tā de gòng xiàn

    Later generations will remember his contributions.

  • 18 后代 hòu dài — descendants HSK 6
    • 后 later, future, coming after
    • 代 generation
    Example

    我们要为后代保护环境。

    wǒ men yào wèi hòu dài bǎo hù huán jìng

    We must protect the environment for our descendants.

  • 19 后期 hòu qī — later stage HSK 6
    • 后 later, after
    • 期 period, stage
    Example

    这个项目已经进入后期阶段。

    zhè ge xiàng mù yǐ jīng jìn rù hòu qī jiē duàn

    This project has already entered the later stage.

  • 20 后者 hòu zhě — the latter HSK 6
    • 后 latter, later, after
    • 者 one (nominalizing particle)
    Example

    我喜欢猫和狗，但更喜欢后者。

    wǒ xǐ huan māo hé gǒu dàn gèng xǐ huan hòu zhě

    I like cats and dogs, but I prefer the latter.

  • 21 后退 hòu tuì — to move backward HSK 6
    • 后 backward, back (direction)
    • 退 retreat, withdraw (movement)
    Example

    请后退一步，让别人先过。

    qǐng hòu tuì yī bù ràng bié rén xiān guò

    Please step back and let others pass first.

  • 22 往后 wǎng hòu — from now on HSK 6
    • 往 towards (future time)
    • 后 after, later
    Example

    往后我们要更加努力。

    wǎng hòu wǒ men yào gèng jiā nǔ lì

    From now on we need to work harder.

  • 23 日后 rì hòu — in the future HSK 6
    • 日 day (temporal aspect)
    • 后 after, later (future direction)
    Example

    日后请多多关照。

    rì hòu qǐng duō duō guān zhào

    Please take care of me in the future.

  • 24 落后 luò hòu — to fall behind HSK 6
    • 落 to fall, to lag
    • 后 behind, after
    Example

    我们不能落后于时代。

    wǒ men bù néng luò hòu yú shí dài

    We cannot fall behind the times.

  • 25 过后 guò hòu — afterwards HSK 6
    • 过 to pass through (time/event)
    • 后 after, later
    Example

    他吃完饭过后就去散步了。

    tā chī wán fàn guò hòu jiù qù sàn bù le

    After he finished eating, he went for a walk.

  • 26 争先恐后 zhēng xiān kǒng hòu — eagerly rush forward HSK 7
    • 争 compete, strive
    • 先 first, ahead
    • 恐 fear
    • 后 last, behind
    Example

    学生们争先恐后地举手回答问题。

    xué shēng men zhēng xiān kǒng hòu de jǔ shǒu huí dá wèn tí

    Students eagerly rush forward to raise their hands to answer the question.

  • 27 前赴后继 qián fù hòu jì — to advance wave upon wave HSK 7
    • 前 front, forward (those who go first)
    • 赴 to rush to, to go forward (courageously)
    • 后 behind, after (those who follow)
    • 继 to continue, to succeed (the mission)
    Example

    革命烈士前赴后继，为国家独立献出生命。

    gé mìng liè shì qián fù hòu jì wèi guó jiā dú lì xiàn chū shēng mìng

    Revolutionary martyrs advanced wave upon wave, sacrificing their lives for national independence.

  • 28 后世 hòu shì — later generations HSK 7
    • 后 later, after
    • 世 generation, era
    Example

    我们要为后世保护好环境。

    wǒ men yào wèi hòu shì bǎo hù hǎo huán jìng

    We must protect the environment well for future generations.

  • 29 后勤 hòu qín — logistics HSK 7
    • 后 rear, back (support from behind)
    • 勤 service, work, duty
    Example

    这个部门负责公司的后勤工作。

    zhè ge bù mén fù zé gōng sī de hòu qín gōng zuò

    This department is responsible for the company's logistics work.

  • 30 后台 hòu tái — backstage HSK 7
    • 后 back, behind
    • 台 stage, platform
    Example

    演员们在后台准备表演。

    yǎn yuán men zài hòu tái zhǔn bèi biǎo yǎn

    The actors are preparing for the performance backstage.

  • 31 后备 hòu bèi — reserve HSK 7
    • 后 back, later, subsequent
    • 备 prepared, ready, in reserve
    Example

    他是球队的后备队员。

    tā shì qiú duì de hòu bèi duì yuán

    He is a reserve player on the team.

  • 32 后备箱 hòu bèi xiāng — trunk (boot) HSK 7
    • 后 rear, back (indicates location at the back of vehicle)
    • 备 reserve, storage (suggests a space for storing items)
    • 箱 box, compartment (indicates an enclosed storage space)
    Example

    请把行李放在后备箱里。

    qǐng bǎ xíng li fàng zài hòu bèi xiāng lǐ

    Please put the luggage in the trunk.

  • 33 后盾 hòu dùn — backing HSK 7
    • 后 behind, rear, backing
    • 盾 shield, protection
    Example

    有你做我的后盾，我什么都不怕。

    yǒu nǐ zuò wǒ de hòu dùn wǒ shén me dōu bù pà

    With you as my backing, I fear nothing.

  • 34 后续 hòu xù — subsequent HSK 7
    • 后 after, later (temporal sequence)
    • 续 continue, follow (continuation)
    Example

    我们需要等待后续通知。

    wǒ men xū yào děng dài hòu xù tōng zhī

    We need to wait for subsequent notification.

  • 35 后裔 hòu yì — descendants HSK 7
    • 后 later generations, those who come after
    • 裔 descendants, offspring
    Example

    我们都是炎黄后裔。

    wǒ men dōu shì yán huáng hòu yì

    We are all descendants of Yan and Huang.

  • 36 后遗症 hòu yí zhèng — sequela, aftereffect, complication HSK 7
    • 后 after, subsequent
    • 遗 remaining, left behind
    • 症 symptom, condition, disease
    Example

    这次事故给他留下了严重的后遗症。

    zhè cì shì gù gěi tā liú xià le yán zhòng de hòu yí zhèng

    This accident left him with serious aftereffects.

  • 37 后顾之忧 hòu gù zhī yōu — worries about the future; future troubles HSK 7
    • 后 rear; behind; what's left behind
    • 顾 look back at; be concerned about
    • 之 possessive particle (classical)
    • 忧 worry; anxiety; concern
    Example

    有了稳定的工作,他就没有后顾之忧了。

    yǒu le wěn dìng de gōng zuò tā jiù méi yǒu hòu gù zhī yōu le

    With a stable job, he no longer has worries about the future.

  • 38 幕后 mù hòu — behind the scenes HSK 7
    • 幕 curtain (theatrical screen separating audience from backstage)
    • 后 behind (indicating position behind the curtain)
    Example

    她在幕后默默工作了很多年。

    tā zài mù hòu mò mò gōng zuò le hěn duō nián

    She has been working quietly behind the scenes for many years.

  • 39 思前想后 sī qián xiǎng hòu — think over and over HSK 7
    • 思 think (about the past)
    • 前 before, what came earlier
    • 想 think (about the future)
    • 后 after, what comes later
    Example

    我思前想后，决定接受这份工作。

    wǒ sī qián xiǎng hòu jué dìng jiē shòu zhè fèn gōng zuò

    I thought it over and over, and decided to accept this job.

  • 40 滞后 zhì hòu — lag behind HSK 7
    • 滞 stagnant, blocked, delayed
    • 后 behind, after
    Example

    经济发展滞后于社会需求。

    jīng jì fā zhǎn zhì hòu yú shè huì xū qiú

    Economic development lags behind social needs.

  • 41 皇后 huáng hòu — empress HSK 7
    • 皇 imperial, emperor
    • 后 empress, queen consort
    Example

    皇后在宫中享有很高的地位。

    huáng hòu zài gōng zhōng xiǎng yǒu hěn gāo de dì wèi

    The empress enjoyed a high status in the palace.

  • 42 稍后 shāo hòu — in a moment HSK 7
    • 稍 slightly, a bit (indicates a short amount of time)
    • 后 later, after (indicates future time)
    Example

    我稍后给你打电话。

    wǒ shāo hòu gěi nǐ dǎ diàn huà

    I'll call you in a moment.

  • 43 马后炮 mǎ hòu pào — belated advice; Monday morning quarterback; hindsight wisdom HSK 7
    • 马 horse (chess piece)
    • 后 behind; after (in time)
    • 炮 cannon (chess piece)
    Example

    事情都过去了，你现在说这些不是马后炮吗？

    shì qing dōu guò qù le nǐ xiàn zài shuō zhè xiē bú shì mǎ hòu pào ma

    The matter is already over, isn't what you're saying now just hindsight wisdom?

Structure & writing
1 先 xiān — before; preceding (opposite of 'after')
先 is a component in 4 characters
HSK 2
洗 xǐ to wash; to clean with water, gasoline, kerosene, etc.
HSK 3
选 xuǎn to choose; to select; to pick
HSK 5
赞 zàn to help; to support
HSK 7
宪 xiàn (lit.) laws and decrees

先 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order

2 后 hòu — later; occurring at a later time (opposite of 先/前)

后 is not used as a component in any other character.

后 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.

Stroke order