หลังจาก

After

Level 2

Use หลังจาก (lǎng-jàak) to say 'after' an event. It can introduce a noun phrase or a clause; the time expression can come before or after the main clause.

How It Works

หลังจาก introduces the earlier event or time reference in an after-expression. The expression can come before or after the main clause.

1. Usage with Nouns:
When followed by a noun, it acts like a preposition.
Example: หลังจากอาหารเย็น (After dinner).

2. Usage with Clauses:
When followed by a subject and verb, it acts as a conjunction. The clause form illustrated here is หลังจากที่ (lǎng-jàak thîi), with the linked marker ที่. Clauses without 'thîi' also appear in the work and meal examples.

3. The Role of Completion:
Completion can be made explicit, as in the supplied examples. One illustrated structure is:
หลังจาก + [Action] + แล้ว
This highlights completion of the earlier action; it is not an obligatory ending for every after-clause.

4. Comparing Related Time Expressions:

  • Time References: For a time reference, compare the temporal use of หลัง (lǎng) with หลังจาก. Both can express time relationships; the full expression shows the event or time reference.
  • Related Form: Compare หลัง (lǎng), which has temporal as well as spatial uses.
  • Clause Form: หลังจากที่ introduces the time clause in the graduation example.
  • Adverbial (Afterwards): To say 'afterwards' or 'later' without a following noun, use หลังจากนั้น (after that). Compare the related time expression ภายหลัง (phaai-lǎng) as another way to refer to a later time.

Examples (4)

  1. หลังจากเลิกงาน ผมจะไปฟิตเนส

    After finishing work, I will go to the gym.

    Word by Word: After finish work, I will go fitness.

    Here, 'หลังจาก' is followed by a verb phrase 'เลิกงาน' (finish work) to set the timeframe for the next action.

  2. หลังจากที่เขาเรียนจบ เขาก็ไปทำงานที่ต่างประเทศ

    After he graduated, he went to work abroad.

    Word by Word: After that he study finish, he [then] go work at foreign country.

    This uses the clause form 'หลังจากที่' and includes ก็ in the second clause to connect the later event in the sequence.

  3. เราไปเดินเล่นกันเถอะ หลังจากกินข้าวเสร็จแล้ว

    Let's go for a walk after we finish eating.

    Word by Word: We go walk play together [particle], after eat rice finish already.

    Notice the use of 'เสร็จแล้ว' (finished already) at the end of the clause to emphasize the completion of the meal.

  4. หลังจากอาหารเย็น ผมชอบดื่มชา

    After dinner, I like to drink tea.

    Word by Word: After food evening, I like drink tea.

    In this simple sentence, 'หลังจาก' is followed directly by a noun phrase 'อาหารเย็น'.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing 'นัน' without the tone mark in 'หลังจากนั้น' ('after that').

    หลังจากนันผมจะไป
    ผมจะไปทีหลัง / หลังจากนั้นผมจะไป

    'หลังจากนั้น' means 'after that'. In 'นั้น', write ้ above น. 'หลังจากนั้นผมจะไป' means 'After that, I will go'. 'ผมจะไปทีหลัง' is another way to say 'I will go later'. Here, 'นัน' is a spelling error for the intended word 'นั้น'.

  • Using 'หลังจาก' for spatial 'behind'.

    แมวอยู่หลังจากบ้าน
    แมวอยู่หลังบ้าน

    'หลังจาก' expresses temporal 'after' in this lesson. For the intended physical location 'behind the house', the supplied answer uses 'หลัง'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

หลังจากLevel 2After

Learn This First

To understand 'หลังจาก' (after), you first need to be familiar with the spatial term 'หลัง' (behind/after) which provides the conceptual root. Additionally, since this pattern often works in tandem with the completion marker 'แล้ว' to indicate that one action finished before another began, knowing how to use 'แล้ว' is very helpful. Finally, a solid grasp of basic Thai sentence structure is required to correctly place the time marker relative to the actions being described.

Words in This Pattern

หลังจาก