How to say "thereafter" in Japanese

• 爾後じご
  noun, adverbA formal written way to say 'thereafter', covering the plain 'from that point on' sense. Being less common, it suits formal documents and announcements far more than conversation; learners rarely need it in speech.
• しかる後しかるのち
  expression, adverb, nounCovers 'thereafter' but its core meaning is 'after doing that; followed by', pointing back to a specific preceding action. Less common and formal in flavor, it is usually not the word you want for a simple 'thereafter'.
• その後そのあと
  expression, noun, adverbThe most neutral choice for 'after that; afterwards; thereafter', describing what happened subsequently. It fits both conversation and writing when you simply narrate events in sequence, and is the natural default for learners.
  その後あとの話はなしはご存ぞんじでしょう。↗

  You know the rest of the story.
• 以後いごJLPT N2approx.Common
  noun, adverbA common word covering 'thereafter' and also 'since (then)', emphasizing a point in time from which something continues. Good for statements like 'thereafter it never happened again' or ongoing states since that point.
  それ以後いご彼女かのじょに会あっていません。↗

  I haven't seen her since then.

For ordinary 'thereafter' 「その後」 is the safest everyday choice; 以後 also works and is common, especially for 'since then'; 爾後 and 「しかる後」 are stiff, less common variants best kept to formal written style.

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

• 爾後じごthereafter
• しかる後しかるのちthereafter
• その後そのあとafter that
• 以後いごthereafter