〜あとで: Saying 'After' (Doing Something) in Japanese
What it means
あとで tells you that one thing happens after another. Whatever comes first goes in front of あとで, and the main action follows. With a verb, you must use the past (た) form before あとで, even when the whole sentence is about the present or future. With a noun, you connect it using の: 仕事のあとで ("after work").
ヤッタンはご飯を食べたあとで散歩します。
ヤッタンは ごはんを たべた あとで さんぽします。
Yattan goes for a walk after eating.
モチは授業のあとで先生に質問しました。
モチは じゅぎょうの あとで せんせいに しつもんしました。
Mochi asked the teacher a question after class.
Noun + のあとで for an event like 授業 (class).
また、あとで電話します。
また、あとで でんわします。
I'll call you later.
あとで on its own just means 'later.'
How to form it
| Connects to | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (action) | past (た) form + あとで | 食べたあとで = after eating |
| Noun (event) | noun + の + あとで | 授業のあとで = after class |
| Alone | あとで | あとで = later |
The key point: a verb must be in its た-form before あとで, never the dictionary form or て-form. The た-form here does not mean the action is in the past — it simply marks the "after" relationship.
After an action (verb + あとで)
ヤッタンは宿題をしたあとでゲームをします。
ヤッタンは しゅくだいを した あとで ゲームを します。
Yattan plays games after doing his homework.
お風呂に入ったあとで、牛乳を飲みます。
おふろに はいった あとで、ぎゅうにゅうを のみます。
After taking a bath, I drink milk.
入った is the past (た) form of 入る.
After an event (noun + のあとで)
ヤッタンの弟は学校のあとで公園で遊びます。
ヤッタンの おとうとは がっこうの あとで こうえんで あそびます。
Yattan's little brother plays at the park after school.
食事のあとで、みんなでお茶を飲みました。
しょくじの あとで、みんなで おちゃを のみました。
After the meal, everyone drank tea together.
Before vs after: 〜あとで and 前に
The natural partner of あとで is 前に (まえに), which means "before." They work as mirror images, but watch the verb form: あとで takes the past (た) form, while 前に takes the dictionary (plain present) form.
- 寝る前に歯を磨く = brush teeth before sleeping (前に → dictionary form 寝る).
- 寝たあとで本を読む = read a book after sleeping (あとで → past form 寝た).
There is also 〜てから ("after… and then"), which uses the て-form and stresses that the first action finishes first before the next begins. あとで simply places one action after another, while てから highlights the sequence more strongly. For now, just remember that あとで needs the た-form.
Common mistakes
- Using the dictionary form before あとで. It must be the past (た) form: 食べるあとで ✗ → 食べたあとで ✓.
- Dropping の after a noun. A noun connects with の: 授業あとで ✗ → 授業のあとで ✓.
- Mixing up 前に and あとで forms. 前に takes the dictionary form (寝る前に); あとで takes the た-form (寝たあとで).
- Thinking た means past tense here. 食べたあとで散歩します is about the present/future — the た-form only signals "after."
Quick recap
- あとで = after; the earlier action or event comes in front of it.
- Verb → past (た) form + あとで: 食べたあとで.
- Noun → の + あとで: 授業のあとで.
- あとで by itself = "later."
- Opposite is 前に (before), which uses the dictionary form.
Your turn
Choose the correct form before あとで (た-form verb or noun + の).
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Why is the verb in the past (た) form before あとで?
The た-form here marks the 'after' relationship, not past tense. 食べたあとで散歩します ('go for a walk after eating') can be about the future — only the dictionary form is wrong before あとで.
How do I use あとで with a noun?
Connect the noun with の: 授業のあとで ('after class'), 仕事のあとで ('after work'). Don't drop the の.
What's the difference between あとで and 前に?
あとで means 'after' and takes the past (た) form: 寝たあとで. 前に means 'before' and takes the dictionary form: 寝る前に. They are mirror images.
Can あとで be used alone?
Yes. By itself, あとで means 'later': あとで電話します ('I'll call later').