KANJI: GO KOU ushiro (behind, back, after, back, delay)

ASCII Art Representation:

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Character Etymology:

The radical at left represents road/movement while the radical at right is a compound of the inversion of the radical for foot and the short version of thread. The inverted foot signifies abnormal movement while the short version of thread acts phonectically to express the sound "go" but also lends its meaning of little: thus, to make (abnormally) little progress, indicating delay and by extension coming after/behind.

A Listing of All On-Yomi and Kun-Yomi Readings:

on-yomi: GO KOU
kun-yomi: nochi ushi(ro) ushiro ato oku(reru)

Nanori Readings:

Nanori: koshi shi shii shiri

English Definitions:

1. GO, KOU: back, rear, behind.
2. ato: back, rear, behind; results; remainder, sequel; posterity; successor; survivor; effect, influence; estate.
3. ato no: back, rear, posterior; previous, last; later, subsequent; next, following; future.
4. ato ni: after, behind, back, backward; ago, next.
5. oku(rasu), oku(raseru): retard, delay, defer.
6. oku(re): failure, defeat; backwardness, shyness, fear.
7. oku(reru): be late, be delayed, be overdue; lag behind; (clocks) lose.
8. ushi(ro): back, read, behind.
9. ushiro(metai): underhanded, suspicious.
10. nochi: after, since then; future; after one's death.
11. -go: after, afterwards, later on, since, hence.

Character Index Numbers:

New Nelson: 1742
Henshall: 111

Unicode Encoded Version:

後

Unicode Encoded Compound Examples:

後半 (kouhan): second half.
後味 (atoaji): aftertaste.
後記 (kouki): postscript.

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