HSK 3 · VERSION 2.0#86
Comparing “yǐhòu”, “ránhòu”, and “hòulái”
以后 vs 然后 vs 后来
How it works
All three can involve sequence or “later,” but they refer to different kinds of time.
The difference
以后 = after that / in the future 然后 = then, next, in sequence 后来 = later, afterward, usually in the past
Example sentences
吃完饭以后我们去散步。
After eating, we will go for a walk.
我先洗澡，然后睡觉。
I will take a shower first, then go to sleep.
他先在北京工作，后来去了广州。
He first worked in Beijing, and later went to Guangzhou.
Usage note
This distinction is very important in both speaking and writing.