time noun / adverb HSK 4
Traditional 事後
after the event · afterwards · later · ex post facto
Meaning
事后 refers to the time period after something has already happened or been completed. It emphasizes the retrospective nature of an action, thought, or realization that occurs following an event, often contrasting with what happened beforehand or what should have been done earlier.
Usage
Commonly used to describe reactions, reflections, or actions taken after an event has concluded. Often appears in expressions like 事后诸葛亮 (hindsight expert) or 事后才知道 (only realized afterwards). Frequently contrasted with 事前 (beforehand). Neutral register, suitable for both spoken and written contexts.
Examples
- 01事后我才意识到自己说错了话。.Only afterwards did I realize I had said the wrong thing.
- 02警方正在进行事后调查。.The police are conducting a post-event investigation.
Characters
Common collocations
- 事后才only afterwards
- 事后发现discovered afterwards
- 事后分析post-event analysis
- 事后处理handle afterwards, aftermath handling
Antonyms
Origin
Compound of 事 (matter/event) and 后 (after), literally meaning 'after the matter.' A straightforward temporal construction common in Chinese for indicating sequence.