のち
Meanings
noun, adverb, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
A time expression meaning something happens later or after a previous event. It is somewhat more written or formal than あと in many everyday contexts, and often appears as のちに, のちほど, or ～ののち.
He later became a famous writer.
After the meeting, there was a simple meal.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
the future; later time
Refers to a future or later period, especially in written expressions such as のちの時代 or のちのこと.
This discovery had a major influence on later research.
I am saving little by little with the future in mind.
noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'
Used in expressions such as 亡きのち, meaning the period after someone has died. The separate word 死後 is often the more direct modern equivalent.
After our mother died, my older brother supported the family.
Archaic noun use meaning descendants or posterity. In modern Japanese, 子孫 or 後裔 is normally used instead.
In classical writing, のち can refer to descendants.
Usage patterns
- 〈事〉ののちafter 〈event〉
After graduating, he went abroad.
- 〈人〉亡きのちafter 〈person〉's death
After my father's death, I took over the family business.
- のちの〈時〉in a later era/time
This work came to be highly valued in a later era.
- のちに〈事〉が分かるit later becomes clear that ~
The truth later came to light.