later
later — 副詞
1. after a specific time or event that you have just mentioned; following a point i
後來；之後
在提及的時間點之後
after a specific time or event that you have just mentioned; following a point in time already referred to
Felix went to the store at noon, and Tara arrived three hours later.
Felix 中午去了商店，Tara 三個小時後才到。
time phrase + later (specific interval)
The police arrived ten minutes later, but the thief had already escaped.
警察十分鐘後趕到，但小偷早已逃走了。
Élise finished her homework and later helped her younger brother with his.
Élise 做完功課後，後來又幫忙弟弟寫作業。
later as a sequencing adverb between two actions
Apinya saw the missed call from her mother and called back an hour later.
Apinya 看到母親的未接來電，一小時後才回撥。
Sumin parked the car at the station and later walked to the office.
Sumin 把車停在車站，後來走路去辦公室。
- hours later
- minutes later
- days later
- years later
- soon after
- afterwards
more formal and often used in written English
- subsequently
formal; used in academic or official writing
- then
simpler and more common in everyday speech, but less precise about timing
- earlier
before a given time or event
文法句型
time expression + later
later (after a clause)
用法筆記
In this sense, later is often paired with a time expression such as 'a few minutes later' or 'three days later', or used to connect two events in sequence.
常見錯誤
2. at some point in the future, especially soon after the present moment; not now b
以後；待會
在未來某個時間點
at some point in the future, especially soon after the present moment; not now but after some time has passed
Lucía said she would finish the report later because she was too busy now.
Lucía 說她待會再寫報告，因為她現在太忙了。
later meaning 'at a future time, not now'
Tariq put the novel aside and told himself he would read it later.
Tariq 把小說放到一旁，告訴自己以後再看。
The weather forecast says it will rain later this afternoon.
氣象預報說今天下午稍晚會下雨。
later + this [time period]
Manuela cannot decide right now — she wants to think about it later.
Manuela 現在無法決定——她想之後再考慮。
Emre promised to explain his decision later during the staff meeting.
Emre 答應在員工會議上稍後再解釋他的決定。
- later on
- later today
- later this week
- later this year
- afterwards
slightly more formal
- in a while
informal; suggests a shorter wait
- by and by
old-fashioned; rarely used in modern English
- now
at the present moment
- immediately
without any delay
文法句型
later + (time period)
later on
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (AFTER A TIME), this sense does not refer back to a specific earlier event. It simply places an action at a future time, often soon. Commonly used with 'later on' in informal speech.
常見錯誤
3. used to state the latest acceptable moment for something, meaning on or before t
不遲於
在某時間之前，不得超過
used to state the latest acceptable moment for something, meaning on or before that moment
Please return the library books no later than Friday afternoon.
請在週五下午前歸還圖書館的書。
no later than [time/deadline]
The application form must be submitted not later than March 15th.
申請表必須在 3 月 15 日前提交。
Children under twelve should be in bed no later than nine o'clock.
十二歲以下兒童應在晚上九點前上床睡覺。
Tamar was told to send the email no later than noon on Friday.
Tamar 被告知最晚要在週五中午前寄出電子郵件。
set phrase: told to [do something] no later than [time]
- no later than
- not later than
- by
shorter and more common in everyday instructions; 'by Friday' = 'no later than Friday'
- at the latest
used after a time expression: 'Friday at the latest'
文法句型
no later than + time
not later than + time
用法筆記
Always used with 'no' or 'not' in the fixed pattern 'no/not later than [time/deadline]'. It emphasises the deadline itself rather than the idea of futurity.
常見錯誤
later on
idiomAt a future time after the present or a mentioned time.
稍後
We can discuss the details later on during lunch.
Later on, Maya realized she had left her keys at home.
not/no later than…
idiomBy a specified time and not after it.
不遲於
Please submit your report no later than Friday afternoon.
The library books must be returned not later than next Tuesday.
sooner or later
idiomAt some time in the future, even if the exact time is unknown.
遲早
Sooner or later, Diego will have to face the consequences.
Every student learns sooner or later that hard work pays off.
After a short time instead of after a long time.
盡早
We need to fix the leak sooner rather than later to avoid damage.
Sara decided to start her homework sooner rather than later.
later — 形容詞
- latercomparative
- laterestsuperlative
1. coming at a future time or at a more advanced point in a process or series
較晚的；後續
在未來或後續階段的
coming at a future time or at a more advanced point in a process or series
The meeting has been moved to a later date in November.
會議已延後到十一月的某個日期。
later [noun] meaning 'scheduled further ahead'
Christopher decided to save the difficult questions for a later discussion.
Christopher 決定把難題留到以後再討論。
The earlier film was funnier than the later version.
早期的電影比後來的版本更好笑。
contrast: earlier vs. later
In later stages of the project, the team hired three more designers.
在專案的後期階段，團隊又聘請了三位設計師。
David chose a later flight so he could sleep a little longer.
David 選擇了較晚的航班，這樣他就可以多睡一會兒。
- later date
- later stage
- later version
- later time
- later flight
- future
broader; not limited to the next in a series
- subsequent
more formal; often used in academic writing
- next
simpler but more specific to the immediately following item
文法句型
a later + noun
later + noun phrase
用法筆記
Often contrasted with 'earlier' in the same sentence. The noun attached is typically something with stages or options (date, version, stage, flight, meeting).
常見錯誤
2. happening or existing close to the final part of a timespan, a series of actions
晚期；後期
接近某時期或生命末尾的
happening or existing close to the final part of a timespan, a series of actions, or a person's lifetime
In her later years, Mizuki spent most of her time gardening quietly.
Mizuki 晚年大部分時間都在安靜地種花。
later years meaning 'near the end of life'
The later chapters of the novel reveal the truth about the main character.
這本小說的後幾章揭露了主角的真實身份。
Eshe's later paintings show a very different use of colour and light.
Eshe 後期的畫作在色彩和光線的運用上截然不同。
The later part of the concert featured songs from the band's newest album.
演唱會的後半段表演了樂團最新專輯的歌曲。
the later part of [event/period]
Nadia found that her later poems were shorter but more powerful.
Nadia 發現她後期的詩雖然較短，但更有力量。
- later years
- later life
- later chapters
- later works
- later period
- later part
文法句型
the later + noun (of a period/life)
用法筆記
Distinct from sense 1 (IN THE FUTURE): this sense emphasises position near the end of a known period, not simply a time ahead. Common with 'years', 'life', 'chapters', or creative works showing development.
3. more modern or more recent than an earlier example of the same type, especially
較新；近期
同類中更新或更現代的
more modern or more recent than an earlier example of the same type, especially in technology, design, or research
The later model of the phone has a much better camera.
這款手機的較新型號相機好多了。
later meaning 'more recent' (comparing versions)
Later research has shown that the earlier study contained several mistakes.
較新的研究顯示，早期的研究有幾處錯誤。
Aaron prefers the later design because it is lighter and easier to carry.
Aaron 比較喜歡新的設計，因為更輕、更好攜帶。
Obi chose the later edition of the textbook for his university course.
Obi 為他的大學課程選了較新的教科書版本。
later edition / version / model
- later model
- later version
- later edition
- later research
- later design
- more recent
more transparent to learners, but longer
- newer
simpler and more conversational
- updated
suggests improvements were made
文法句型
a later + noun (model/version/design)
用法筆記
This sense compares two things from the same category by release date or development stage. It nearly always appears with a noun like 'model', 'version', 'edition', 'design', or 'research'. The opposite is 'earlier'.
常見錯誤
later — 感嘆詞
1. an informal way to say goodbye, used especially among friends or people of a sim
回頭見；再見
非正式的道別用語
an informal way to say goodbye, used especially among friends or people of a similar age
Tara waved goodbye to her friends and called out, 'Later!'
Tara 向朋友們揮手道別，喊道：「回頭見！」
informal farewell among friends
Eli grabbed his bag and shouted 'Later!' as he ran out the door.
Eli 抓起書包，邊衝出門邊大喊：「再見啦！」
'I need to go now. Later, everyone!' Felix called from the doorway.
「我得走了。大家回頭見！」Felix 在門口說道。
Lucía smiled at her teammates and said, 'Later, guys!' as she left the gym.
Lucía 對隊友們笑了笑，離開體育館時說：「回頭見，各位！」
Esme waved from her bicycle and called 'Later!' to her neighbour.
Esme 騎著腳踏車向鄰居揮手，喊了一聲「再見！」
- see you later
a bit more complete but equally informal
- bye
the most common informal goodbye
- catch you later
very informal and friendly
用法筆記
Considered casual and friendly. Not appropriate for formal situations such as job interviews, letters, or conversations with superiors. Often used by younger speakers in American English.