noun
Buddhist term for the world after death, often contrasted with 前生 (previous life) and 今生 (this life).
後生を信じる人は、善行を積もうとする。
People who believe in the afterlife try to accumulate good deeds.
interjection, noun
for goodness' sake; I beg of you
Used as an earnest plea, often in the set phrase 後生だから (literally 'for the sake of the afterlife'). It carries a desperate or imploring tone, similar to 'for the love of God' or 'I implore you'.
See also: 後生だから
後生だから、もう一度だけチャンスをください。
For goodness' sake, please give me just one more chance.
後生です、どうかお助けください。
I beg of you, please help me.
From 後 (after) and 生 (life), literally 'after-life'. The pleading sense derives from the Buddhist notion of staking one's afterlife on a request, as in the phrase 後生だから.