以后 (yǐhòu) means "after" or "in the future" in Mandarin, and it lets you tell someone what you plan to do once an event ends — or discuss your future in general. This HSK 3 live speaking lesson targets that single pattern so you can use it confidently in real conversation.
Place 以后 immediately following the event or time it modifies. 下课以后 (xiàkè yǐhòu) means "once class is over," so the key sentence 下课以后我们去吃饭吧 (xià kè yǐ hòu wǒ men qù chī fàn ba) translates to "Once class is over, let's go eat!"
When 以后 stands alone at the beginning of a sentence, it shifts meaning to "in the future." The question 以后你想做什么？ (yǐhòu nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?) asks "What do you want to do in the future?" The structure stays simple — attach 以后 to the word for your event, or let it open the sentence on its own.
You talk out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin in real time — voice, not typing. Over roughly 10 minutes, you'll practice describing plans that follow class, work, or any event, plus discussing what you want to do going forward. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation in the flow of conversation and adapts to your level. You can try the first lesson free, with no credit card required to start talking.
To reinforce what you learn, print handwriting practice pages with the free Chinese worksheet generator. For more structured study, browse the HSK 3 lessons hub. When you're ready for more patterns, try another HSK 3 live lesson on "Making Backup Plans" or the HSK 3 lesson "Multitasking".
以后 (yǐhòu) has two meanings depending on placement. Attached to a verb or time — like 下课以后 (xiàkè yǐhòu, "once class is over") — it means "after" that event. Standing alone at the start of a sentence, it means "in the future," as in 以后你想做什么？ (yǐhòu nǐ xiǎng zuò shénme?) — "What do you want to do in the future?"
You speak out loud with AI teacher Mei Lin for about 10 minutes, practicing the 以后 (yǐhòu) pattern in real conversation. Mei Lin corrects your grammar and pronunciation as you talk and adapts to your level. You'll describe what you want to do following class, work, or any event, and discuss future plans — all by voice, not typing.
Yes. You can print handwriting practice pages using the free Chinese Worksheet Generator, which covers HSK 1–3 vocabulary. While there isn't a pack tailored to this specific lesson, the tool lets you reinforce characters like 以后 and related words from the "Making Plans After" topic.
SayMei offers live lessons for several HSK 3 patterns. For example, you can practice 如果...就 (rúguǒ...jiù) for conditional sentences or 一边...一边 (yìbiān...yìbiān) for describing simultaneous actions. Each lesson targets one pattern and takes about 10 minutes of voice conversation with Mei Lin.