後あと書がき

あ

と

が

き

Common wordJLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

A short note or section placed after the main text of a book, essay, or similar work, often by the author. For a P.S. added to a letter, 追伸 is usually the more specific word.

この本ほんの後あと書がきに、作さく者しゃの思おもいが書かかれている。
The author's thoughts are written in the afterword of this book.
最さい後ごに短みじかい後あと書がきを添そえた。
I added a short afterword at the end.

See all 16 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

後あと書がきを書かくto write an afterword
作さく者しゃは本ほんの最さい後ごに後あと書がきを書かいた。
The author wrote an afterword at the end of the book.
後あと書がきで〈事こと〉を述のべるto mention something in the afterword
後あと書がきで感かん謝しゃの気き持もちを述のべた。
He expressed his gratitude in the afterword.

Kanji

後behind, back, later
書write

Related words

跋ばつ文ぶん
跋文 is a stiffer, more literary word for an afterword, while 後書き is the common, everyday term.

Opposites

前まえ書がきN1
前書き is the preface placed before the main text, while 後書き is the note placed after it.
序じょ文ぶん
序文 introduces a work at its beginning, while あとがき is the closing note the author adds at the end.

Don't confuse with

追つい伸しんN1
追伸 is a postscript added to a letter or email, whereas 後書き is an afterword attached to a book or longer written work.

Word family

後あと書がきラベル
trailer label; end-of-file label; EOF label

Built from

後あと+書かく

Written forms

後あと書がきUsage3%
Standard spelling with okurigana; commonly used for an afterword at the end of a book or similar work.
あとがきUsage94%
後あと書がきUsage3%
Attested spelling without okurigana; usable, but 後書き is the clearer standard spelling for learners.

Etymology

A transparent compound of 後, meaning 'after' or 'later,' and 書き, the noun form of 書く 'to write'; the spelling is conventionally associated with something written after the main text.