后世 (hòu shì) refers to 'later generations' or 'posterity' as a broad, abstract group of people in the future — it's about the future as a whole, not specific descendants. Unlike 后代 (hòu dài) or 子孙 (zǐ sūn), which emphasize bloodline or offspring, 后世 is used in historical or cultural contexts (e.g., 'later generations of scholars'). It's more formal and collective than 后人 (hòu rén), which can also mean 'people after us' but is slightly less abstract.