Word
后来 (hòu lái) — Chinese word meaning
HSK 3
后来 (hòu lái) is a Chinese word: later, afterwards. This page shows its pinyin, translation, example sentences, character breakdown, decomposition, and HSK level.
Meaning of 后来
副 fù adverb
later, afterwards
他当时不明白，后来才懂了。
tā dāng shí bù míng bai hòu lái cái dǒng le
He didn't understand at the time, but later he got it.
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Word breakdown
后 hòu — after, behind (temporal sense)
Words with this character (43)
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Example
房子后面有一个花园。
fáng zi hòu miàn yǒu yí gè huā yuán
There is a garden behind the house.
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- 以 from; by means of (marks the starting point in time)
- 后 after; later; behind (provides the temporal direction)
Example
以后我会更加努力。
yǐ hòu wǒ huì gèng jiā nǔ lì
In the future, I will work even harder.
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Example
我后天要去北京。
wǒ hòu tiān yào qù běi jīng
I'm going to Beijing the day after tomorrow.
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Example
我计划后年去中国留学。
wǒ jì huà hòu nián qù Zhōng guó liú xué
I plan to study abroad in China the year after next.
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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.
Show more (+38)
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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Example
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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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.
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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.
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Example
他背后有一个人。
tā bèi hòu yǒu yí gè rén
There is a person behind him.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Example
日后请多多关照。
rì hòu qǐng duō duō guān zhào
Please take care of me in the future.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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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.
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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.
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Example
我稍后给你打电话。
wǒ shāo hòu gěi nǐ dǎ diàn huà
I'll call you in a moment.
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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?
来 lái — come (forms temporal expression with 后)
Words with this character (50)
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Example
他从楼下上来了。
tā cóng lóu xià shàng lái le
He came up from downstairs.
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Example
他从楼上下来了。
tā cóng lóu shàng xià lái le
He came down from upstairs.
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Example
他从房间里出来了。
tā cóng fáng jiān lǐ chū lái le
He came out of the room.
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Example
我妈妈刚回来。
wǒ mā ma gāng huí lái
My mom just came back.
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Example
早上我七点起来。
zǎo shang wǒ qī diǎn qǐ lái
I get up at seven o'clock in the morning.
Show more (+45)
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- 过 pass, cross over (indicates movement across a distance)
- 来 come (indicates directional movement toward the speaker)
Example
你过来一下。
nǐ guò lái yī xià
Come over here for a moment.
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Example
请进来坐。
qǐng jìn lái zuò
Please come in and sit down.
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Example
她来自北京。
tā lái zì Běi jīng
She comes from Beijing.
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- 看 to look, to see; contributes the sense of observation or perception
- 来 to come; functions as a directional complement forming an expression for making inferences
Example
看来明天会下雨。
kàn lái míng tiān huì xià yǔ
It seems it will rain tomorrow.
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Example
他从来不迟到。
tā cóng lái bù chí dào
He is never late.
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Example
春天到来了。
chūn tiān dào lái le
Spring has arrived.
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Example
原来你是老师。
yuán lái nǐ shì lǎo shī
So you're a teacher.
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Example
我将来想当医生。
wǒ jiāng lái xiǎng dāng yī shēng
I want to be a doctor in the future.
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Example
我本来想去，但是太忙了。
wǒ běn lái xiǎng qù dàn shì tài máng le
I originally wanted to go, but I was too busy.
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Example
我来不及吃早饭就走了。
wǒ lái bù jí chī zǎo fàn jiù zǒu le
I didn't have time to eat breakfast and left.
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- 来 to come/approach (indicates temporal arrival)
- 得 structural particle (links verb with result complement)
- 及 to reach/attain (indicates successfully reaching in time)
Example
现在出发还来得及。
xiàn zài chū fā hái lái de jí
If we leave now, we'll still be in time.
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Example
这个工具用来切水果。
zhè ge gōng jù yòng lái qiē shuǐ guǒ
This tool is used to cut fruit.
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- 以 from, since (marking the starting point in time)
- 来 coming up to now (indicates direction toward present)
Example
改革开放以来，中国发生了巨大的变化。
gǎi gé kāi fàng yǐ lái zhōng guó fā shēng le jù dà de biàn huà
Since the reform and opening up, China has undergone tremendous changes.
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Example
欢迎大家前来参加我们的活动。
huān yíng dà jiā qián lái cān jiā wǒ men de huó dòng
Welcome everyone to come participate in our event.
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Example
未来科技会改变我们的生活。
wèi lái kē jì huì gǎi biàn wǒ men de shēng huó
Future technology will change our lives.
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Example
这些数据的来源很可靠。
zhè xiē shù jù de lái yuán hěn kě kào
The source of these data is very reliable.
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- 近 near, recent (indicates closeness in time)
- 年 year (the unit of time being referenced)
- 来 come, since (indicates a period continuing up to now)
Example
近年来，环境保护越来越受到重视。
jìn nián lái huán jìng bǎo hù yuè lái yuè shòu dào zhòng shì
In recent years, environmental protection has received more and more attention.
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Example
这是一种外来物种。
zhè shì yī zhǒng wài lái wù zhǒng
This is a foreign species.
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Example
我们两家人常常往来。
wǒ men liǎng jiā rén cháng cháng wǎng lái
Our two families often visit each other.
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Example
冬天来临，天气变冷了。
dōng tiān lái lín tiān qì biàn lěng le
Winter has arrived, and the weather has become cold.
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Example
我们两家经常来往。
wǒ men liǎng jiā jīng cháng lái wǎng
Our two families frequently interact.
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Example
这个节日的由来很有趣。
zhè ge jié rì de yóu lái hěn yǒu qù
The origin of this festival is very interesting.
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Example
这里的自来水很干净。
zhè lǐ de zì lái shuǐ hěn gān jìng
The tap water here is very clean.
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Example
他近来工作很忙。
tā jìn lái gōng zuò hěn máng
He's been very busy with work lately.
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- 划 to calculate, to reckon (profitability)
- 不 not (negation)
- 来 feasible, workable (directional complement indicating result)
Example
坐出租车去太划不来了，我们坐地铁吧。
zuò chū zū chē qù tài huá bù lái le wǒ men zuò dì tiě ba
Taking a taxi is not worth it, let's take the subway.
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- 划 to calculate, to reckon
- 得 resultative particle indicating possibility or achievement
- 来 directional complement completing the resultative phrase
Example
这个价格很划得来。
zhè ge jià gé hěn huá de lái
This price is very worthwhile.
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Example
到头来，他还是选择了回家。
dào tóu lái tā hái shì xuǎn zé le huí jiā
In the end, he still chose to go home.
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Example
我们公司历来重视产品质量。
wǒ men gōng sī lì lái zhòng shì chǎn pǐn zhì liàng
Our company has always valued product quality.
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- 向 toward (indicates direction from the past)
- 来 come/since (indicates coming from the past to present)
Example
他向来不喜欢说话。
tā xiàng lái bù xǐ huan shuō huà
He has always disliked talking.
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Example
多年来，这个城市发生了很大的变化。
duō nián lái zhè ge chéng shì fā shēng le hěn dà de biàn huà
Over the years, this city has undergone great changes.
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Example
他从国外归来。
tā cóng guó wài guī lái
He returned from abroad.
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Example
打开门，海风扑面而来。
dǎ kāi mén hǎi fēng pū miàn ér lái
Opening the door, the sea breeze blew in my face.
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- 来 to come; represents the arrival or obtaining of something
- 之 classical possessive particle; connects the components
- 不 not; negates the following character
- 易 easy; refers to ease or simplicity
Example
这个机会来之不易，你一定要把握住。
zhè ge jī huì lái zhī bù yì nǐ yí dìng yào bǎ wò zhù
This opportunity is hard-won, you must seize it.
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Example
这幅画的来历不明。
zhè fú huà de lái lì bù míng
The origin of this painting is unknown.
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Example
从北京到上海的来回票多少钱？
cóng Běi jīng dào Shàng hǎi de lái huí piào duō shao qián
How much is a round-trip ticket from Beijing to Shanghai?
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Example
欢迎各位来宾参加我们的活动。
huān yíng gè wèi lái bīn cān jiā wǒ men de huó dòng
Welcome all guests to our event.
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Example
我们来年再见吧。
wǒ men lái nián zài jiàn ba
Let's meet again next year.
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Example
我刚才收到一个来电。
wǒ gāng cái shōu dào yí gè lái diàn
I just received an incoming call.
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Example
明天会有重要客人来访。
míng tiān huì yǒu zhòng yào kè rén lái fǎng
Important guests will visit tomorrow.
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- 来 coming; the origin or source
- 龙 dragon; dragon veins (feng shui concept)
- 去 going; the result or outcome
- 脉 veins; the connecting thread or continuity
Example
他详细地解释了事情的来龙去脉。
tā xiáng xì de jiě shì le shì qing de lái lóng qù mài
He explained the ins and outs of the matter in detail.
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- 礼 Courtesy, propriety, gift
- 尚 Esteem, value, uphold
- 往 Go,往来 means going and coming (reciprocal exchange)
- 来 Come, 往来 means going and coming (reciprocal exchange)
Example
在中国文化中，礼尚往来是一种重要的社交礼仪。
zài zhōng guó wén huà zhōng lǐ shàng wǎng lái shì yī zhǒng zhòng yào de shè jiāo lǐ yí
In Chinese culture, courtesy demands reciprocity is an important social etiquette.
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Example
这场暴风雨突如其来，让大家措手不及。
zhè chǎng bào fēng yǔ tū rú qí lái ràng dà jiā cuò shǒu bù jí
This storm came suddenly and unexpectedly, catching everyone off guard.
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- 翻 turn over, flip
- 来 indicates movement in one direction
- 覆 overturn, turn back
- 去 indicates movement in the opposite direction
Example
他昨晚翻来覆去睡不着觉。
tā zuó wǎn fān lái fù qù shuì bu zháo jiào
He tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep.
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- 苦 bitterness, suffering, hardship
- 尽 exhaust, finish, come to an end
- 甘 sweetness, pleasant times
- 来 come, arrive
Example
经过多年的努力，他终于苦尽甘来，实现了自己的梦想。
jīng guò duō nián de nǔ lì tā zhōng yú kǔ jìn gān lái shí xiàn le zì jǐ de mèng xiǎng
After years of hard work, he finally saw his fortunes turn and realized his dreams.
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- 长 long (duration)
- 期 period, term
- 以 by, with (grammatical connector)
- 来 come, since (indicates time up to now)
Example
长期以来，他一直在研究这个问题。
cháng qī yǐ lái tā yì zhí zài yán jiū zhè ge wèn tí
For a long time, he has been researching this problem.
Structure & writing
后 is not used as a component in any other character.
后 is an atomic character — it does not decompose further.
Stroke order
来 is a component in 1 characters
consists of
未 is a component in 6 characters
丷 is a component in 24 characters
Show more HSK 7 characters (+2)
Stroke order