Tuesday, June 9, 2009

あと・のち・以後・以降・先 after, later

Taking one point in time as a reference, time continuing after that or a point in time after that.

Ato and nochi have almost the same meaning, but nochi is a formal way of speaking. Igo and ikou mean after that (reference point in time). Ikou is used attached to expressions of time or happenings (jiken). Saki means time that is coming from now. It indicates, vaguely, a future point in time or period in time.

十年 あと・のち・さき のことまで考える・Ato, nochi, saki can be attached to an expression of a time period. Ikou, igo cant be attached to an expression that does not show a point in time originating.

四月一日 以後・以降 に延期する・opposite to A, you mark a point in time when something starts.

また のち にご説明いたします・nochi is appropriate for formal terms; atode (not just ato) could be used, saki has a strong feeling of in the future so is not appropriate for this phrase.

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