…後面 /…后面
… hòumiàn
The English phrase "behind" can be translated into Chinese as …後面 /…后面 (… hòumiàn). Wiktionary also lists …後邊 /…后边 (… hòubiān).
Meaning: at the back of (prep)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| …後面 /…后面 | … hòumiàn |
| …後邊 /…后边 | … hòubiān |
The term is used to indicate that something is located at the back of something else.
What does it mean word for word?
The word …後面 /…后面 is composed of the character 後 (hòu), meaning 'back' or 'behind'. The alternative form …後邊 /…后边 uses the character 邊 (biān), which means 'side' or 'edge', to describe the area at the back.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify that an object is behind something else, you typically use the grammatical structure 在 (zài) + [Object] + 後面 (hòumiàn).
How do you pronounce it?
… hòumiàn
Did you know?
- In Chinese, the word 後 also means 'descendants'. A person's children and grandchildren are referred to as their 後代, literally their 'behind-generation'.
- The character 後 is used in the phrase 後悔, which means 'to regret'. This literally translates to 'regretting later' or 'regretting from behind'.
- In Chinese, to say someone is 'behind' your back in a supportive way, you might use 後盾, which literally means 'back shield'.
Examples in context
- 那个女孩在房子后面。That girl is behind the house.
- 那個車子在樹後面咧。The car is behind the tree.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “behind” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
