What is the difference between てから vs 後で?

Both put A before B. てから attaches to the て-form and stresses the order: B happens only once A is done, often as a necessary first step — 手を洗ってから食べて "wash your hands, then eat". 後で attaches to the た-form or to a noun + の (授業の後で) and simply says B comes after A, without the "first A" emphasis. Only てから can mean "since": 日本に来てから三年になります "it's been three years since I came to Japan". On its own, 後で means "later".

When do you use てから?

After doing A — first A, then B; since A

When do you use 後で?

After A (just the order in time); later

てから vs 後あとで: what's the difference?

Both put A before B. てから stresses "first A, then B" and can mean "since"; 後あとで just says B comes later. With examples and a drill.

Draft: written with AI help and not yet checked by a teacher. If something looks wrong, please report it.

The patterns

てからAfter doing A — first A, then B; since AOpen the lesson
後あとでAfter A (just the order in time); laterOpen the lesson

The difference

Both put A before B. てから attaches to the て-form and stresses the order: B happens only once A is done, often as a necessary first step — 手てを洗あらってから食たべて "wash your hands, then eat". 後あとで attaches to the た-form or to a noun + の (授業じゅぎょうの後あとで) and simply says B comes after A, without the "first A" emphasis. Only てから can mean "since": 日本にほんに来きてから三年さんねんになります "it's been three years since I came to Japan". On its own, 後あとで means "later".

Side by side

てから手てを洗あらってから、食たべてください。Wash your hands first, then eat.

後あとで食たべた後あとで、歯はを磨みがきます。After eating, I brush my teeth.

て-form + から; た-form + 後あとで.

てから日本にほんに来きてから、三年さんねんになります。It's been three years since I came to Japan.

後あとで授業じゅぎょうの後あとで、図書館としょかんに行いきます。After class I'll go to the library.

"Since" is only てから. A noun takes の後あとで.

てから宿題しゅくだいをしてから、遊あそびに行いきなさい。Do your homework first, then go and play.

後あとで映画えいがを見みた後あとで、食事しょくじをしました。After the movie we had a meal.

てから: A is a condition for B. 後あとで: just the order of events.

てからちょっと考かんがえてから返事へんじします。Let me think a little before I answer.

後あとで今いま忙いそがしいので、後あとで電話でんわします。I'm busy now, so I'll call you later.

後あとで on its own means "later".

Quick drill

Pick the word that fits the blank. You get the answer straight away.

大学だいがくを＿＿、もう五年ごねんになります。
今いまは時間じかんがないので、＿＿話はなしましょう。
仕事しごとの＿＿、飲のみに行いきませんか。
食たべた＿＿、薬くすりを飲のんでください。
手てを洗あらって＿＿、食たべましょう。
日本にほんに来きて＿＿、一度いちども国くにに帰かえっていません。

0 of 6 correct

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