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    Chinese Grammar

    Expressing "after" with 之后 (zhīhòu) as a postposition

    HSK 3
    Sequence & Order
    Time Expressions

    Structure

    Event/Time + 之后, Clause

    Explanation

    之后 means "after" and is placed after a time expression, event, or action to indicate what follows. It functions as a more formal alternative to 以后 and is common in both written and spoken Chinese. For example, 毕业之后 means "after graduating."

    Examples

    • 毕业之后，他去了一家外企工作。

      bìyè zhī hòu, tā qù le yī jiā wàiqǐ gōngzuò.

      After graduating, he went to work at a foreign company.

    • 吃完饭之后，我们去散散步吧。

      chī wán fàn zhī hòu, wǒmen qù sànsànbù ba.

      After we finish eating, let's go for a walk.

    • 手术之后，她恢复得很快。

      shǒushù zhī hòu, tā huīfù de hěn kuài.

      After the surgery, she recovered very quickly.

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    Expressing "after" with 之后 (zhīhòu) as a postposition | Chinese Grammar