-(으)ㄴ 후에/다음에 in Korean: “after”
-(으)ㄴ 후에/다음에
-(eu)n hue/daeume
after
Beginner · Linking ideas
-(으)ㄴ 후에 (-(eu)n hue) and -(으)ㄴ 다음에 (-(eu)n daeume) both mean "after" doing something. They tell you that one action happens once another is done.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb stem ending in a vowel | + ㄴ 후에/다음에 | 보다 → 본 후에, 끝나다 → 끝난 다음에 |
| Verb stem ending in a consonant | + 은 후에/다음에 | 먹다 → 먹은 후에 |
| Verb stem ending in ㄹ | drop ㄹ + ㄴ 후에 | 만들다 → 만든 후에 |
| 하다 verb | + ㄴ 후에/다음에 | 졸업하다 → 졸업한 후에 |
| Noun | + 후에/다음에 | 수업 → 수업 후에 |
How to use it
A-(으)ㄴ 후에 B means B happens after A. The -(으)ㄴ shape is the past modifier, which makes sense because A is already done.
후에 sounds a little more formal or written, while 다음에 is more conversational. 뒤에 is another option with the same meaning.
Even when you talk about the future, the -(으)ㄴ shape stays the same: 먹은 후에 갈게요 (I'll go after I eat). The final ending sets the tense and politeness.
Examples
Tap a word to see what it means and save it to your flashcards.
Daily routine
Making plans
Job interview
On the phone
Don’t mix it up with
-고 나서: Also means "after", with a little more focus on finishing the first action. In most everyday sentences they can swap.
-기 전에: The opposite, "before". It uses a different shape: 먹기 전에 vs 먹은 후에.
Common mistakes
Using the present modifier: 먹는 후에 is wrong. It is always the past-looking shape 먹은 후에.
Want the basics first? Read Describing nouns (-는, -은, -을).
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 후에 and 다음에?
They mean the same thing. 후에 sounds slightly more formal, and 다음에 is more common in casual conversation.
Why is it 먹은 후에 and not 먹는 후에?
The first action is finished before the second, so Korean uses the past modifier -(으)ㄴ, even for future plans.