以后 vs 然后 vs 后来
yǐ hòu vs rán hòu vs hòu lái
Comparing "yihou", "ranhou" and "houlai"
Three words for "after", split by what they attach to and which way they look in time.
以后 = after / in future · 然后 = and then · 后来 = later (past only)
How it works
以后 attaches to a point in time or looks forward: 我以后想开公司.
然后 sequences two actions, in any time frame: 先吃饭，然后看电影.
后来 narrates the past only: 后来他去了美国. Using it about the future is the mistake to avoid.
Examples
wǒ yǐ hòu xiǎng kāi gōng sī
我以后想开公司。
I want to start a company one day.
xiān chī fàn, rán hòu kàn diàn yǐng
先吃饭，然后看电影。
First eat, then watch a film.
hòu lái tā qù le měi guó
后来他去了美国。
Later on he went to America.
Common mistakes
- 后来 can never refer to the future.