Definition
尔后 is a formal/literary conjunction meaning 'thereafter' or 'subsequently'. It is used in written Chinese to indicate what happened after a certain point in time, similar to 以后 but more elevated in register. It does not mean 'your descendants' despite what some dictionaries list; that sense comes from a different reading of the characters. Use it in formal contexts where you want a classical touch.
v.p.
(formal/literary) thereaftersubsequentlyafterwards
Examples
- ,尔后。Tā xiān qù le Běijīng, ěr hòu qù le Shànghǎi.He first went to Beijing, and subsequently went to Shanghai.
- 尔后,。ěr hòu, zhège xísú biàn liúchuán le xiàlái.Thereafter, this custom was passed down.
- ,尔后。Wǒmen xiān tǎolùn zhège wèntí, ěr hòu zài juédìng xià yí bù.Let's first discuss this issue, and then decide the next step.
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