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後の祭り (atonomatsuri) Japanese meaning: too late | Kotomora
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祭まつ
り
だ
。
It's too late to regret it now.
Studying after the exam is over is a day after the fair.
Kanji 祭 ritual, offer prayers, celebrate Written forms 後あと の 祭まつ り
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
後あと の 祭まつり
Variant spelling without okurigana; less common but still encountered.
Etymology Literally 'the festival afterwards'; the phrase originates from the idea that once a festival is over, any preparations or regrets are pointless. The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but it has been used idiomatically since the Edo period.
