N4 Sequential Actions

~てから vs ~あとで: meaning, usage and examples

~てから vs ~あとで means: both mean "after": てから stresses the order (do A first, then B) or a precondition; あとで simply places B later than A.

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 手てを洗あらってから、食事しょくじをします。

   I eat meals after washing my hands.

2. 宿題しゅくだいが終おわったあとで、遊あそびに行いきます。

   After finishing homework, I will go play.

3. 日本にほんに来きてから、毎日まいにち日本語にほんごを話はなしています。

   Since coming to Japan, I've spoken Japanese every day.

4. 仕事しごとのあとで、友ともだちと映画えいがを見みます。

   After work, I'm going to see a movie with a friend.

When to use it

Both mean "after". てから stresses order: do A first, then B, often because A is needed before B: 手てを洗あらってから、食たべます. It also means "since": 日本にほんに来きてから、三年さんねんです. あとで simply places B later than A, with no special link: 仕事しごとのあとで、映画えいがを見みます. Only あとで can follow a noun directly: 授業じゅぎょうのあとで.

Nuance

てから sounds like a rule or a plan of steps, so it is common in instructions and requests: 確認かくにんしてから送おくってください. あとで is relaxed about order and time; there may be a gap between A and B. On its own, あとで means "later": あとで電話でんわします.

Compare

Decisive test: if it must mean "since" (a period continuing from A until now), only てから works: 結婚けっこんしてから、ずっとここに住すんでいます. If it follows a noun, only のあとで works: 食事しょくじのあとで. Watch the form: てから takes て-form, あとで takes た-form (食たべたあとで, not 食たべるあとで).

Tip: Think "first A, then B" for てから, and "B, sometime after A" for あとで. Never use dictionary form before あとで.

More on this in The Japanese te-form.