後 — Kanji Meaning, Readings & Example Words (JLPT N5)
What it means
At its core, 後 covers two closely linked ideas: "after / later" in time and "behind / back" in space. You'll meet it constantly at N5: 後で ("later"), 午後 ("afternoon, PM"), 後ろ ("behind, the back"), and 最後 ("the last, the end"). The common thread is something that follows — later in time, or further back in position. Whenever you spot 後, you can reliably guess the word has to do with "after" or "behind," which is a great head start on the meaning.
Readings
This kanji is famous for having several readings, so it's worth slowing down here. The kun'yomi alone splits three ways — あと, のち, and うし.ろ — and the on'yomi ゴ shows up in some of the most common N5 words.
| Type | Reading | Used in |
|---|---|---|
| kun'yomi | あと | 後 (あと, after/later), 後で (あとで, later) |
| kun'yomi | うし.ろ | 後ろ (うしろ, behind, the back) |
| kun'yomi | のち | 後ほど (のちほど, later — polite/formal) |
| on'yomi | ゴ | 午後 (ごご, afternoon), 最後 (さいご, the last) |
| on'yomi | コウ | 後輩 (こうはい, junior — N3+) |
The usual rule of thumb still helps: the on'yomi ゴ appears in two-kanji compounds (午後, 最後), while the kun'yomi readings (あと, うし.ろ) show up when 後 stands more on its own with hiragana. The twist with 後 is just that it has three kun readings — pick あと for "after/later," うし.ろ for "behind," and のち for the formal "later."
Stroke order & radical
- Strokes: 9, written left to right then top to bottom — start with the 彳 radical on the left (three strokes), then build the right side from the top down.
- Radical: the left-hand 彳 is the "going man" radical (ぎょうにんべん), which appears in many kanji about movement, roads, and direction — for example 行 (to go) and 待 (to wait). It's a fitting home for a kanji about what comes after you set off.
Recognizing 彳 on the left is genuinely useful: it often hints that a kanji relates to movement, going, or progressing along a path.
Common words using 後
Notice the reading split in action: the compounds 午後 and 最後 both take the on'yomi ゴ, while the more standalone 後 (あと), 後で (あと), and 後ろ (うし.ろ) take kun'yomi readings. Same kanji, different jobs.
Example sentences
ヤッタンは後で日本語を勉強します。
ヤッタンは あとで にほんごを べんきょうします。
Yattan will study Japanese later.
後で — the kun'yomi あと reading, meaning 'later.'
午後、モチとヤッタンの弟は公園で遊んだ。
ごご、モチと ヤッタンの おとうとは こうえんで あそんだ。
In the afternoon, Mochi and Yattan's little brother played in the park.
午後 uses the on'yomi ゴ (ごご, 'afternoon').
先生は「最後に後ろを見てください」と言いました。
せんせいは「さいごに うしろを みてください」と いいました。
Sensei said, 'At the end, please look behind you.'
Two readings at once: 最後 (ゴ) and 後ろ (うし.ろ) — a great pair to remember the variety.
Quick recap
- 後 = after / behind / later; 9 strokes; uses the 彳 "going man" radical.
- Many readings: あと for "after/later," うし.ろ for "behind," のち for formal "later."
- The on'yomi ゴ appears in compounds: 午後 (ごご) and 最後 (さいご).
Your turn
Choose the correct reading of 後 in each word.
Start the 5-question drill →Frequently asked questions
Why does 後 have so many readings?
後 carries both 'after/later' (time) and 'behind' (place) meanings, so it picked up several kun'yomi: あと (after/later), うし.ろ (behind), and のち (formal 'later'). Its on'yomi ゴ appears in compounds like 午後 and 最後.
How do you read 後 in 午後 vs 後で?
In 午後 it's the on'yomi ゴ (午後 = ごご, 'afternoon'). In 後で it's the kun'yomi あと (後で = あとで, 'later'). As a rule, two-kanji compounds tend to take the on'yomi.
What does 後ろ mean and how is it read?
後ろ (うしろ) means 'behind' or 'the back.' It uses the kun'yomi うし.ろ, where ろ is the okurigana written in hiragana.
How many strokes does 後 have, and what is its radical?
後 has 9 strokes. Its radical is 彳, the 'going man' radical (ぎょうにんべん), which appears in movement-related kanji such as 行 (to go) and 待 (to wait).