以后 vs 之后 (after / afterwards)
Same meaning, different partners
- Both mean "after / afterwards".
- after以后 can stand alone to mean "in the future": after以后to say again再说.
- after之后 is more written and usually needs a reference point: 三天after之后.
after以后 = after / in the future
- after以后I / me我want / think / miss想at or in the very same...当teacher老师 = "in the future, I want to be a teacher." (alone)
in the future以后I我want想be当teacher老师。
- after以后I / me我want / think / miss想at or in the very same...当teacher老师 = "in the future, I want to be a teacher."
Practice
Three days later, he came back: 三天 ____，他回来了。
之后 (more written) follows a time / event: 三天之后.
Practice
之后 is more written than 以后.
Yes — 之后 leans formal; 以后 is everyday and can mean “in future”.
after之后 = after (more written)
- 三天after之后 = "three days later" — after之后 follows a time / event.
three三days天after之后，he他come back回来了。
- 三天after之后，he / him他to return回来(completed / change)了 = "three days later, he came back."
Explore
Which column does it belong in?
Anchored to an event, both work (之后 reads more written); standing alone to face the future, only 以后.
Practice
Which can stand alone to mean “in the future”?
以后 can stand alone (= in the future); 之后 needs a reference point.
Recap
Key idea
- after以后 = after; alone = "in the future" (after以后to say again再说)
- after之后 = after, more written; needs a reference point (三天after之后)
- after以后I / me我want / think / miss想at or in the very same...当teacher老师 · 三天after之后
Read the full reference: HSK 5 grammar — Comparing similar time words.