后 Stroke Order — How to Write 后
后 is written in 6 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 口, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
后 Radical and Character Components
Partial breakdown of 后:口
Radical: 口 + 3 more strokes
后 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- hòu
Meanings of 后 in Chinese
1
hòu后
A monarch, emperor, or ruler, especially in ancient contexts referring to a tribal leader or revered ancestor.
古籍记载，上古部落之后，常以贤德治世，带领族人繁衍生息。
Ancient texts record that the rulers of primeval tribes often governed with virtue, leading their people to prosper and multiply.
empress; queen; wife of an emperor
这位皇后以其优雅和智慧而闻名。
This empress is known for her elegance and wisdom.
Refers to the back or rear, opposite of "front"; behind.
我把书包放在了椅子后面。
I put my backpack behind the chair.
Later in time; after; subsequent; opposite of 'before'.
我们日后再讨论这个问题吧。
Let's discuss this issue later.
Refers to order or position, opposite to 'front' or 'before'; for example, 'back row' or 'last ten'.
请您坐在后排。
Please sit in the back row.
descendants; offspring; posterity; a younger generation
他总是很关心年轻的后辈。
He always cares deeply for the younger generation.
Common Words and Phrases with 后
1
next time
这次没能一起看电影，后摆咱们再约。
We couldn't watch the movie together this time; let's make plans for next time.
2
second half; latter half
这场电影的后半部分非常精彩，情节跌宕起伏。
The latter half of this movie was very exciting, with a thrilling plot.
3
the latter half of one's life
她希望自己的后半生能过得平静而充实，远离城市的喧嚣。
She hoped to live a peaceful and fulfilling latter half of her life, far from the hustle and bustle of the city.
4
The time from midnight to dawn.
她后半夜才把报告写完
She didn't finish writing the report until the early hours of the morning.
5
reserve; backup
公司需要建立一套后备电源系统，以应对突发停电情况。
The company needs to establish a backup power system to deal with sudden power outages.
6
junior; younger generation; posterity; offspring
他总是耐心指导后辈，分享自己的经验。
He always patiently guides the younger generation and shares his experience.
7
Reserves; reserve force.
公司每年都会培训一批应届毕业生，将他们视为未来管理层的后备军。
The company trains a batch of fresh graduates every year, considering them as the reserve force for future management.
8
room for manoeuvre; a way of escape
在制定长期计划时，我们应该为可能出现的意外情况留有后步。
When making long-term plans, we should always leave ourselves some room for maneuver for potential contingencies.
9
10
backcourt or backfield, referring to the rear area of a sports field, such as in tennis, basketball, or American football.
他从后场发起进攻，试图突破对方的防线。
He initiated the attack from the backcourt, attempting to break through the opponent's defense.
11
A lesson drawn from others' past mistakes or failures.
他把这次创业失败的经历当作后车之戒，重新审视了商业计划，最终取得了成功。
He took the experience of this failed startup as a lesson from past failures, re-examining his business plan, and ultimately succeeded.
12
retreat; withdraw
由于补给不足，探险队不得不后撤到安全营地。
Due to insufficient supplies, the expedition team had to retreat to a safe camp.
13
To follow in someone's footsteps; the path or example set by someone who came before.
他不想只是步前人的后尘，而是希望能开创自己的道路。
He doesn't want to merely follow in the footsteps of his predecessors, but rather hopes to forge his own path.
14
Afterwards; henceforth.
我们计划在完成主要任务后，后此再进行详细的复盘总结。
We plan to conduct a detailed review and summary after completing the main task, and subsequently.
15
descendants; offspring; posterity
我们有责任为我们的后代创造一个更美好的世界。
We have a responsibility to create a better world for our descendants.
More words with 后
- mù幕hòu后behind the scenes; backstage
- rán然hòu后then; after that
- shēn身hòu后after one's death
- wǔ午hòu后in the afternoon
- yǐ以hòu后later; thereafter; from now on
- zhī之hòu后After, afterwards, or behind.
- huáng皇hòu后Empress, Queen
- shāo稍hòu后later on; a little later
- wǎng往hòu后from now on; in the future
- chǎn产hòu后After childbirth; postpartum.
- dí敌hòu后enemy's rear area
- diàn殿hòu后to bring up the rear, to cover the retreat
- ěr尔hòu后henceforth; afterwards
- jīn今hòu后From now on; in the future.
- miǎn娩hòu后postpartum, after delivery
- mò末hòu后Finally; in the end.
- qí其hòu后later; afterwards
- shàn善hòu后Handle the aftermath, Deal with the consequences
- suí随hòu后soon afterwards; subsequently
- tài太hòu后Empress Dowager
Idioms with 后
- hòu后fā发zhì制rén人counterattack after opponent's move
- hòu后gù顾zhī之yōu忧worries about future trouble
- hòu后huàn患wú无qióng穷endless future troubles
- hòu后huǐ悔bù不jí及too late to regret
- hòu后huǐ悔mò莫jí及too late for regrets
- hòu后huǐ悔wú无jí及Too late to regret
- hòu后huì会wú无qī期parting ways with no definite date
- hòu后huì会yǒu有qī期We'll meet again
- hòu后jì继wú无rén人no one to carry on
- hòu后jì继yǒu有rén人have capable successors
- hòu后lái来jū居shàng上latercomers surpass predecessors
- hòu后lái来zhī之xiù秀promising young talent
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Open the tool →Questions about 后
What does 后 mean in Chinese?
后 (hòu) means “A monarch” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 后?
后 is pronounced hòu in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 后 have?
后 has 6 strokes.
How do you write 后?
后 is written in 6 strokes, starting from the radical 口. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 后?
The radical of 后 is 口.