あLearn Japanese Online Hub

Kanji · JLPT N5 · Level 4

after, behind

Meaning
after, behind
On reading
Kun reading
Memory hook

The 'step' radical with threads trailing below: coming along behind, one short step at a time. ゴ or コウ in compounds, あと or うし(ろ) on its own.

Words that use 後

p.m.
behind

How to write 後

Stroke order · 9 strokes
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
  1. 1 to 2. The sweep down to the left.
  2. 3. Vertical.
  3. 4. The sweep, down to the left, then down to the right.
  4. 5. The sweep, down to the left, then across to the right.
  5. 6. The diagonal down to the right.
  6. 7. The sweep down to the left.
  7. 8. Horizontal, then sweep down to the left.
  8. 9. The diagonal down to the right.

Stroke data from KanjiVG, CC BY-SA 3.0.

General rules
  • Top to bottom, left to right.
  • Horizontal strokes before crossing vertical ones (十 = horizontal, then vertical).
  • Outside before inside - but close a box last (口).
  • A vertical that passes all the way through comes last (中).
  • Left-falling diagonal before right-falling (大).

後 is taught on day 9 of the kanji course, alongside , with two writing passes and a short quiz.