後こう顧この憂うれい

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Meanings

expression, noun

anxiety about the future; looking back with worry

A formal, somewhat literary set phrase meaning worry about what lies ahead or about things left behind. Often used in the negative form 後顧の憂いなく to mean 'without any lingering concerns' or 'free from future worries'.

後こう顧この憂うれいなく新あたらしい仕し事ごとに専せん念ねんできる。
I can devote myself to the new job without any worries about the future.
彼かれは後こう顧この憂うれいを断たつために、すべての借しゃっ金きんを返へん済さいした。
He paid off all his debts to eliminate any lingering concerns.

Kanji

後behind, back, later
顧look back, review, examine oneself
憂melancholy, grieve, lament

Related words

心しん配ぱい
心配 is a common, everyday word for worry or concern, while 後顧の憂い is a formal, literary set phrase specifically about future anxiety or things left behind.
不ふ安あん
不安 is a general term for uneasiness or anxiety, whereas 後顧の憂い is a fixed expression used in more formal contexts to describe worry about the future or unresolved matters.

Built from

後こう顧こ+憂うれい

Etymology

A yojijukugo (four-character compound) of classical Chinese origin. 後顧 means 'looking back' or 'worrying about what is behind', and 憂い means 'anxiety' or 'concern'. The phrase originally referred to the anxiety of a military commander about threats from the rear, but now broadly means worry about the future or unresolved issues.