Structure:

以后 + Subject +Verb + Object

Meaning:

以后 is used when talking about things that happen at some unspecified point in the future.

Examples:

1. 他 以后 不 想 住 在 日本 。

    Tā yǐ hòu bú xiǎnɡ zhù zài rì běn

    He doesn’t want to live in Japan later.

以后 is used for things occurring after a specific time

Structure:

Time + 以后 , Subject +Verb + Object

Meaning:

以后 can be used to describe actions or events that occur after a specific time (and the time must be given).

Examples:

1. 两 个 星期 以后，我 要 回 美国 。

   Liǎnɡ ɡè xīnɡ qī yǐ hòu ， wǒ yào huí měi ɡuó

    After two weeks, I’m going to return to America.

后来 is used for sequencing past events

Structure:

Past Event #1 + 后来 + Past Event #2

Meaning:

后来 is used to sequence two events that have already occurred. It is the Chinese equivalent of the English word “afterward”.

Examples:

1. 去年 我们 分手 了，后来 再 也 没 见 过 她。

    Qù nián wǒ men fēn shǒu le ， hòu lái zài yě méi jiàn ɡuò tā

    We broke up last year, after that, I never saw her again.