also: そのご · そののち
expression, noun, adverb
after that; afterwards; thereafter
Temporal expression meaning 'after that' or 'subsequently'. The reading そのあと is the most common and neutral. そのご is more formal and often used in written or official contexts. そののち is archaic/literary.
その後、彼はどうなりましたか？
What happened to him after that?
会議の後、その後で食事に行きましょう。
After the meeting, let's go eat afterwards.
その後、状況は改善されました。
Thereafter, the situation improved.
Irregular okurigana usage; very rare.
それから is more conversational and often used to list sequential actions, while その後 is slightly more formal and focuses on a point in time after a specific event.
あとで is a simpler, more casual way to say 'later' or 'afterwards', often used in everyday speech. その後 implies a clearer reference to a previously mentioned event.
Compound of その (demonstrative 'that') + 後 (あと/ご/のち, 'after'). The different readings reflect different historical layers: あと is native Japanese, ご is Sino-Japanese, and のち is an older native reading.