<ol>
<li><p><code>之后</code> means <code>after that (something said earlier)</code> which requires a context as the reference point of time. <code>以后</code> can be used with or without context. When standalone, <code>以后</code> means <code>from now on</code>, <code>in future</code>. </p></li>
<li><p>In general, <code>之后</code> refers to a shorter time period than <code>以后</code>. The difference is akin to that between <code>after</code> vs. <code>since</code> but weaker. In imperative sentences you may want to use <code>以后</code>.</p></li>
<li><p><code>之后</code> can also mean <code>geographically behind</code> though this usage is not common. <code>以后</code> cannot be used in that way. Example: 围墙之后是一排小树。 </p></li>
<li><p>In colloquial language they are pretty much interchangeable. People don't pay much attention to the differences in #1 and #2. In other word, <code>之后</code> can also be used without a context and means <code>from now on</code>, etc. In writing and formal speech, however, they should be used with precision.</p></li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-23T16:33:54.793Z
artilce 3. can be justified (之后 for location relations) cause 之 is a ancient depiction of a foot. So 之后 can be "treated" as "position after someones foot"
coobit
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-24T20:27:00.023Z
2016-03-23T18:40:54.903Z
2016-03-23T18:40:54.903Z
NS.X.
<p>Today John Pasden linked to an old Sinosplice post in which he discussed how Chinese grammatical categories cannot be mapped neatly onto those of Indo-European languages.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2006/03/20/chinese-parts-of-speech">http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2006/03/20/chinese-parts-of-speech</a></p>

<p>Near the end there is a neat chart that illustrates how simple “nouns of locality” combine to form compounds. My Zhongwen Popup Chinese Dictionary plugin for Chrome gives me essentially the same translation for 以后 and 之后, but I have seen them in different environments and don't think they're completely interchangeable. What is the difference in usage between 以后 and 之后？</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-24T17:00:07.677Z
@Silvia It seems to me that that switching 停 and 车 would also create an imperative: 停车在外面。
callyalater
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-03-25T11:01:20.523Z
Oh Master Silvia was once here XD
Stan
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-06-30T17:59:51.030Z
some off topic: I'm a native speaker. I think the 2nd sentence "车停在外面。" means "The car is parked outside.". If you want to express "Park the car outside.", as an imperative sentence, I think it should be "把车停在外面。".
Silvia
<grammar>
What is the difference in usage between 以后 and 之后？
# What is the difference in usage between 以后 and 之后？

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-06-24)

Today John Pasden linked to an old Sinosplice post in which he discussed how Chinese grammatical categories cannot be mapped neatly onto those of Indo-European languages.

<http://www.sinosplice.com/life/archives/2006/03/20/chinese-parts-of-speech>

Near the end there is a neat chart that illustrates how simple “nouns of locality” combine to form compounds. My Zhongwen Popup Chinese Dictionary plugin for Chrome gives me essentially the same translation for 以后 and 之后, but I have seen them in different environments and don't think they're completely interchangeable. What is the difference in usage between 以后 and 之后？

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: some off topic: I'm a native speaker. I think the 2nd sentence "车停在外面。" means "The car is parked outside.". If you want to express "Park the car outside.", as an imperative sentence, I think it should be "把车停在外面。".  
> **username_1**: @username_3 It seems to me that that switching 停 and 车 would also create an imperative: 停车在外面。  
> **username_2**: Oh Master username_3 was once here XD  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-06-24. Score: 9

1. `之后` means `after that (something said earlier)` which requires a context as the reference point of time. `以后` can be used with or without context. When standalone, `以后` means `from now on`, `in future`.
2. In general, `之后` refers to a shorter time period than `以后`. The difference is akin to that between `after` vs. `since` but weaker. In imperative sentences you may want to use `以后`.
3. `之后` can also mean `geographically behind` though this usage is not common. `以后` cannot be used in that way. Example: 围墙之后是一排小树。
4. In colloquial language they are pretty much interchangeable. People don't pay much attention to the differences in #1 and #2. In other word, `之后` can also be used without a context and means `from now on`, etc. In writing and formal speech, however, they should be used with precision.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: artilce 3. can be justified (之后 for location relations) cause 之 is a ancient depiction of a foot. So 之后 can be "treated" as "position after someones foot"  

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