How to say "later" in Japanese

• のちJLPT N3approx.Common
  adverb, no-adjectiveCovers 'later; afterwards': a time after the moment being talked about. It is normally written in kana, and fits narration or remarks that something happened at a later point.
  船ふねが沈没ちんぼつしてしまってのち、船ふねの残骸ざんがいが引き上ひきあげられた。↗

  The wreckage of the ship was salvaged after it had gone to Davy Jones's locker.
• 後日ごじつCommon
  noun, adverbCovers 'later' in the sense of 'another day, at a later date'. Typical when a notice or arrangement puts something off — a payment, reply, or meeting set for a future occasion.
• 後からあとからCommon
  adverbCovers 'after; later' when one action or event follows another: arriving after the others, or noticing something only afterwards. It presents the later thing as following on from the earlier one.
  私は後あとから行いきます。↗

  I'll join you later.
• 後あとJLPT N5approx.Common
  no-adjectiveThe general word for 'after; later', covering both 'later than now' and 'after some event or action'. For a plain, unspecific 'later' or 'after', this is the default choice.
  雨天うてんの後あとには晴天せいてんが来くる。↗

  After rain comes fair weather.

Choose 後（あと） as the general word for 'after/later', 「後から」 when one thing follows another, 「のち」 for 'afterwards' at a later point in time, and 後日 when something is put off to another day.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• のちlater
• 後日ごじつin the future
• 後からあとからafter
• 後であとでlater (on)
• 後の方あとのほうlater
• 後出こうしゅつlater
• 後あとafter
• 後口あとくちlater (in line or in turn, etc.)
• 下ってくだってafter a time