Learn a Chinese Character - 后 (Hòu - Back; behind; rear; later; after; queen; Posterity; descendant; future)

1. Character Basics

Radical: 口/kǒu (mouth) + 人/rén (person)

Stroke Count: 6 strokes

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Hòu (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Basic Meaning: Back; behind; rear; later; after; queen

Extended Meaning: Posterity; descendant; future; subsequent; following

Additional Notes: It can also mean "empress" or "queen" in historical contexts.

4. Common Words

• 后面 (hòu miàn): Behind; back side
  Example: 请站在我后面。 (Qǐng zhàn zài wǒ hòu miàn.) - Please stand behind me.
• 后来 (hòu lái): Later; afterwards
  Example: 后来我们成了好朋友。 (Hòu lái wǒ men chéng le hǎo péng yǒu.) - Later, we became good friends.
• 以后 (yǐ hòu): In the future; later
  Example: 以后请多指教。 (Yǐ hòu qǐng duō zhǐ jiào.) - Please give me more guidance in the future.
• 皇后 (huáng hòu): Empress
  Example: 古代的皇后住在后宫。 (Gǔ dài de huáng hòu zhù zài hòu gōng.) - Ancient empresses lived in the imperial harem.
• 后天 (hòu tiān): The day after tomorrow
  Example: 我们后天见面吧。 (Wǒ men hòu tiān jiàn miàn ba.) - Let's meet the day after tomorrow.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Mostly used as a noun or adverb; can also be a suffix or part of compound words.

Common Usage:

• Used to indicate position: 后面 (hòu miàn) - behind
• Used to indicate time: 后来 (hòu lái) - later, 以后 (yǐ hòu) - in the future
• Used in historical titles: 皇后 (huáng hòu) - empress

Common Structures:

• 在...后 (zài...hòu): After...
  Example: 吃完饭后，我们去散步。 (Chī wán fàn hòu, wǒ men qù sàn bù.) - After eating, we went for a walk.
• 后+数字: The last + number
  Example: 最后三天 (zuì hòu sān tiān) - the last three days

Usage Notes: "后" is often confused with "後" in traditional Chinese, but in simplified Chinese, "后" represents both meanings.

6. Cultural Background

Historical Significance: In ancient China, "后" referred to the highest-ranking royal consort, similar to "empress" in Western cultures. The character's structure reflects its original meaning related to royalty and leadership.

Idiomatic Expressions:

• 先礼后兵 (xiān lǐ hòu bīng): First courteous, then use force
• 前因后果 (qián yīn hòu guǒ): Causes and effects; the whole story
• 后起之秀 (hòu qǐ zhī xiù): An up-and-coming talent

Cultural Notes: The concept of "后" (later/future) is important in Chinese philosophy, emphasizing the cyclical nature of time and the importance of considering long-term consequences.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Structure Memory: The character "后" consists of "口" (mouth) and "人" (person). Imagine a person speaking from behind (after) someone else.

2. Sound Association: The pronunciation "hòu" sounds similar to the English word "how", but with a rising then falling tone.

3. Word Grouping: Group words related to time (后来, 以后, 后天) and position (后面) to help remember different usages.

4. Stroke Order Practice: Practice writing the 6 strokes in order: 丿 (pie), 丨 (shu), 一 (heng), 一 (heng), 丨 (shu), 一 (heng).

5. Visual Association: The character resembles a person with an open mouth, which can help associate it with words like "皇后" (empress) who would give orders.