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JLPT N4Time Expressions

あとで— After (with a time gap)

Expresses that one action follows another, allowing a vague gap in between. Looser and less immediate than てから.

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Pro lessonUNIT 8 · TIME EXPRESSIONS

Structure · 形

[Verb plain-past (た) / Noun + の] + あとで

Examples · 例文

  • 食べたあとで、歯を磨きます。

    Tabeta ato de, ha o migakimasu.

    I'll brush my teeth after eating.

    食べた (past-tense verb, action completed) + あとで.

  • 仕事のあとで、飲みに行きましょう。

    Shigoto no ato de, nomi ni ikimashou.

    Let's go for a drink after work.

    Noun + の + あとで (仕事のあとで).

  • 宿題をしたあとで、テレビを見ます。

    Shukudai o shita ato de, terebi o mimasu.

    I watch TV after doing my homework.

    した (past-tense verb, action completed) + あとで.

Usage notes · 注意

  • Past-tense rule: The verb before あとで must be た-form (食べたあとで), never 食べるあとで — the first action must be complete.
  • Nouns connect with の: 授業のあとで.

Commonly confused with

The JLPT rarely asks whether you recognise a pattern — it asks which of several similar patterns fits. These are the ones あとで is tested against.

vsてから

食べてから磨く = brush right after eating (tight sequence, emphasis on order); 食べたあとで磨く = brush at some vague point after eating (looser gap).

vs前に

前に is the opposite ('before') and takes the DICTIONARY form (食べる前に), whereas あとで takes the PAST form (食べたあとで).

More time expressions

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