Translation guide
The English word "later" can refer to a point in the future, after some event, or a casual goodbye. Japanese uses different words and grammar depending on the nuance.
後で食べます。
I'll eat later.
Often used as a casual farewell, like "see you later" or "talk to you later".
また後でね！
See you later!
A more formal version of 後で, often used in business settings or polite speech.
後ほどご連絡いたします。
I will contact you later.
To indicate that something happens after a specific event or point in time.
Attach to a noun or event to mean "after ~".
仕事の後で飲みに行きませんか？
How about going for a drink after work?
映画の後で食事をしましょう。
Let's have a meal after the movie.
Used after a verb in て-form to mean "after doing ~". Emphasizes the sequence of actions.
宿題をしてから遊びます。
I'll play after doing my homework.
Used after a verb in past plain form to mean "after doing ~". Similar to 〜てから but slightly more formal or written.
食べた後で歯を磨きます。
I brush my teeth after eating.
To refer to something that comes after in a series, like "later chapters" or "later that day".
Pre-noun adjective meaning "later" or "subsequent". Used to modify nouns.
後の章で詳しく説明します。
I will explain in detail in a later chapter.
後の祭り
Too late; a day after the fair (idiom)
Means "latter half" or "second half", used for time periods, games, etc.
試合の後半に点を入れました。
They scored in the later part of the game.
Used as a short, informal way to say goodbye, like "Later!" or "See ya!".
A very common casual goodbye, equivalent to "See you" or "Later".
じゃあね、また明日！
Later! See you tomorrow!
Another casual goodbye, literally "again, right?" but used like "Later!".
バイバイ、またね！
Bye, later!
Kansai dialect equivalent of じゃあね, used in western Japan.
ほな、さいなら。
Later, goodbye.
To express that something will inevitably happen at some point in the future.
A set phrase meaning "sooner or later".
遅かれ早かれ真実は明らかになる。
Sooner or later the truth will come out.
An adverb meaning "eventually" or "sooner or later".
いずれ分かるでしょう。
You'll find out sooner or later.
The English word "later" is sometimes borrowed as レイター in very casual slang among young people, but it's not standard and can sound unnatural. Stick to the Japanese expressions above.
後で (あとで) is the standard adverbial form meaning "later". 後に (あとに) is used more in temporal sequences (e.g., Aの後にB) or in written language. For simple "I'll do it later", always use 後で.