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後々 (あとあと) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

後あと々あと

あ

と

あ

と

JLPTN1›Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

future; later on; in the long run

Refers to a point in time after the present, often with a sense of 'eventually' or 'down the road'. Can be used as a noun or adverb.

後

あと

々あと

の

こと

を

考かんが

え

て

貯ちょ

金きん

する

。

I save money thinking about the future.

その決けつ断だんは後あと々あとまで影えい響きょうを残のこした。

That decision had an impact for a long time afterward.

Usage patterns

後々あとあとのために〈動詞どうし〉〉to do something for the sake of the future
後あと々あとのために貯ちょ金きんしておく。
I'm saving money for the sake of the future.
後々あとあと〈事こと〉になるになるto become a problem or issue later on
これが後あと々あと問もん題だいになるかもしれない。
This might turn into a problem later on.
後々あとあとまで〈動詞どうし〉〉to continue on far into the future
この恩おんは後あと々あとまで忘わすれません。
I will remember this kindness far into the future.

Kanji

後behind, back, later
跡tracks, mark, print

Related words

将しょう来らいN5
将来 is the formal, neutral word for 'the future' used in serious contexts like careers or plans, while 後々 is a more casual word for 'eventually/down the road', often about consequences.
今こん後ごN3
今後 means 'from now on' and focuses on the period starting from the present, whereas 後々 points further ahead to some unspecified later time.
ゆくゆく
ゆくゆく and 後々 both mean 'eventually/in time', but ゆくゆく is slightly more literary and often pairs with hopes or plans, while 後々 more often warns of future trouble.

Opposites

前まえ々まえ
前々 points to a vague stretch of time before now, while 後々 points to a vague stretch of time still to come.

Don't confuse with

後あとでN5
後で shares the kanji 後 with 後々 but simply means 'afterwards/later' in a near, neutral sense, while 後々 implies a more distant, long-term future.

Written forms

後あと々あと
Standard kanji spelling; the repetition mark 々 is used for the second 後.
あとあとUsage100%
後あと後あと
Less common variant without the repetition mark.
跡あと々あと
Rare kanji variant using 跡; may carry a nuance of 'traces' or 'aftermath' but is not the standard spelling.
跡あと跡あと
Rare kanji variant; same as 跡々 but without the repetition mark.

Etymology

Reduplication of 後 (あと, 'after') to emphasize a later time. The kanji 後 is used for temporal 'after', while the variant 跡 is associated with physical traces or marks.