1. later than; following in time
在…之後（時間上）
We'll meet after lunch.
我們午餐後見。
She arrived after me.
她在我之後到達。
The shops close after 9 p.m.
商店在晚上九點後關門。
After Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
after
preposition
快速理解
What does "After" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "After"?
表示時間、順序或位置上的後續關係。
- 1
時間上在...之後
EN: later in time than something
翻譯: 表示某個時間點之後。
- 2
順序上在...之後
EN: following in order or place
翻譯: 表示順序或位置上的跟隨。
- 3
因為，由於
EN: because of or as a result of
翻譯: 表示原因或結果。
- 4
追尋，尋找
EN: in pursuit or search of
翻譯: 表示追趕或尋求的目標。
小提醒：注意 'after' 與 'in' 表示未來時間的區別：'after' 指某個特定時間點之後，'in' 指一段時間之後。
發音（How to Pronounce "After" in English）
How to pronounce "After" in English?"After" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "After" from YouTube Videos
South Korea would accept Trump-Kim deal to freeze North Korea’s nuclear programme | BBC News
BBC News
“When you saw the Korean workers handcuffed and chained up in the US just weeks after you had agreed to invest billions of dollars there, did you feel betrayed, like so many people in this country now do?”
(1 out of 515)
Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "After"?How does "After" change by context?
2. behind in place or order
在…後面（位置或順序上）
Your name comes after mine on the list.
名單上你的名字在我的後面。
He walked in the door after his brother.
他跟在他哥哥後面走進門。
Q comes after P in the alphabet.
在字母表中，Q 在 P 的後面。
3. in pursuit or search of
追尋；尋找
The police are after the thief.
警方正在追捕那個小偷。
She's after a new job.
她正在找一份新工作。
He's always after money.
他總是在追求金錢。
4. because of or as a result of
由於；因為
After what happened, I don't trust him anymore.
發生了那些事之後，我不再信任他了。
She was named after her grandmother.
她是以她祖母的名字命名的。
After all his help, we should thank him.
在他提供了這麼多幫助之後，我們應該謝謝他。
5. in the style of or in imitation of
模仿…的風格
a painting after Picasso
一幅模仿畢卡索風格的畫作
The building was designed after a Greek temple.
這棟建築是仿照希臘神廟設計的。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "After"?How to make natural sentences with "After"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| after + noun phrase | 在…之後 | We went for a walk after dinner. (我們在晚餐後去散步。) |
| after + V-ing | 在…之後 | After finishing his work, he went home. (完成工作後，他就回家了。) |
| after + clause (subject + verb) | 在…之後 | I'll call you after I arrive. (我到了之後會打給你。) |
| time period + after + event | …之後的一段時間 | He left ten minutes after you. (你離開十分鐘後他也走了。) |
| day/week/year + after + day/week/year | 一個…又一個… | Day after day, she waited for news. (日復一日，她等待著消息。) |
| be named after + someone/something | 以…命名 | The bridge is named after a famous poet. (這座橋是以一位著名詩人命名的。) |
| run after + someone/something | 追逐；追求 | The dog ran after the ball. (那隻狗跑去追球。) |
| look after + someone/something | 照顧 | Can you look after my cat while I'm away? (我不在時，你能照顧我的貓嗎？) |
用法說明
How is "After" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "After"?
after doing vs after to do
- after doing 是唯一正確的結構，用於表示一個動作發生在另一個動作之後。介系詞
after後面必須接動名詞 (V-ing) 或名詞子句。 - after to do 是錯誤的結構。介系詞
after後面不能接不定詞 (to + V)。 - 若要表達「為了做某事」的目的，應使用
in order to或to，而不是after。
對比範例： EN: She felt refreshed after taking a short nap. 翻譯: 她小睡片刻後感到精神煥發。
EN:She felt refreshed after to take a short nap.
翻譯:(錯誤用法)
EN:He always checks his email after arriving at the office.
翻譯:他到辦公室後總是先檢查電子郵件。
EN:He always checks his email after to arrive at the office.
翻譯:(錯誤用法)
總結建議
記住 after 作為介系詞時，其後應接動名詞 (doing) 或子句，絕不可接不定詞 (to do)。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "After" and similar words?How to choose "After" vs alternatives?
after vs behind
「after」強調時間或順序上的先後；「behind」強調空間位置上的後方或進度上的落後。
after vs since
「after」表示某個時間點之後；「since」表示從過去某個時間點持續到現在（或另一個過去時間點）。
after vs later
「after」是介系詞或連接詞，需接名詞或子句；「later」是副詞，單獨使用表示「稍後」。
口語用法
How is "After" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "After"?
引述
在口語中，常以 "after" 引述剛聽到的內容，表示緊接其後或作為回應。 EN: A: The meeting starts at three. B: Right after lunch, then. 翻譯: A: 會議三點開始。B: 那就是午餐後馬上開始囉。
EN:So you just left after he said that? Wow.
翻譯:所以他一說完你就走了？哇。
語氣強調
在非正式對話裡，將 "after" 放在句首或加重語氣，可強調事件的先後順序或因果關係，帶有「明明都…之後還…」的意味。 EN: After all I've done for you, this is how you treat me? 翻譯: 在我為你做了這麼多之後，你竟然這樣對我？
EN:After you promised, you just forgot?
翻譯:你明明都答應了，之後就忘了？
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，有時會用 "after that" 或 "and after" 作為填充詞，連接前後想法，使對話聽起來更流暢。 EN: We went to the store, and after... uh, we grabbed a coffee. 翻譯: 我們去了商店，然後呢…呃，我們就去喝了杯咖啡。
EN:The plan is to finish the report, after that, we can all go home.
翻譯:計畫是完成這份報告，之後呢，大家就可以回家了。
正式書寫注意：上述口語用法，特別是「停頓填充」和過於強調情緒的「語氣強調」句型，在正式報告、學術論文或商業文件中應避免使用，以保持文體的客觀與簡潔。
常見短語
What common collocations use "After"?What fixed phrases with "After" should I remember?
after all
after all
畢竟；終究
look after
look after [someone/something]
照顧；照看
day after day
day after day
日復一日
soon after
soon after [event/time]
不久之後
named after
named after [someone/something]
以...命名
go after
go after [something/someone]
追求；追趕
one after another
one after another
一個接一個
after you
after you
您先請（禮貌用語）
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "After"?Which "After" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×I will call you after I will arrive.
✓I will call you after I arrive.
在時間副詞子句（after, before, when, until 等引導）中，即使主句是未來式，子句要用現在式表示未來。
×After two hours, he left.
✓He left after two hours. / Two hours later, he left.
「After + 時間段」通常放在句尾，描述主句動作發生在該時間段之後。若想放在句首，更自然的說法是「時間段 + later」。
×I am looking forward to meet you after a long time.
✓I am looking forward to meeting you after such a long time.
「after a long time」通常需要上下文或修飾（如 such a, so）來聽起來自然。此外，「look forward to」後面要接動名詞（V-ing）。
×He left after she arrived.
✓He had left before she arrived. / He left after she arrived.
原句文法正確，但意思是他「在她到達之後」才離開。如果意思是「在她到達之前他就已經離開了」，則需用「had left + before」來明確表達先後順序。
×I studied hard after I want to pass the exam.
✓I studied hard because I wanted to pass the exam.
「after」表示時間上的先後，不表示原因。這裡想表達的是原因或目的，應該用「because」或「so that」。
×Name after your grandfather is a tradition.
✓Naming a child after your grandfather is a tradition.
「name after」是片語動詞，意思是「以...的名字命名」。使用時需要注意主詞和受詞的邏輯，常以「name someone after someone」的形式出現。原句缺少了受詞（a child, him 等）且動詞形式錯誤。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "After"?What are tense/participle forms of "After"?