后来 hòulái
later / afterwards
后来 (hòulái) means "later / afterwards" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
Words used with 后来
从前
cóngqián
once upon a time / in the past
高楼
gāolóu
tall building
倒闭
dǎobì
to go bankrupt
国外
guówài
abroad
习惯
xíguàn
to get used to / habit
Frequently asked questions
What does 后来 (hòulái) mean in Chinese?
后来 (hòulái) means "later / afterwards" in Chinese. 后来 (hòulái) means "later / afterwards" in Chinese and is one of the highest-frequency words in the Speak1000 curriculum.
How do you use 后来 in a sentence?
Use 后来 (hòulái) the way you would use "later / afterwards" in English, then build longer sentences by adding words you already know around it.
What is the difference between 后来 (hòulái) and 先 (xiān)?
Both are high-frequency Chinese words taught early in Speak1000. 后来 means "later / afterwards"; 先 means "first / before". The fastest way to tell them apart is to hear each one used in real sentences — our free lessons drill every word in context so the contrast becomes natural.
Related Chinese concepts
Hear 后来 used in real sentences
The fastest way to remember 后来 (hòulái) is to hear it used naturally. Start free and practice with audio from day one.
Start free lessons