Later (hòulái) is an adverb meaning 'afterwards' or 'subsequently' — it indicates something that happens after a previously mentioned event, time, or situation. The character 后 (hòu) means 'behind' or 'after', and 来 (lái) means 'to come'; together, they literally suggest 'what comes after'. It’s commonly used to mark a shift in time within a narrative, often appearing at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

This word is neutral in register and appears frequently in both spoken and written Chinese — especially in storytelling, personal anecdotes, and explanations of cause-and-effect sequences. Unlike time nouns such as 以后 (yǐhòu), 后来 functions purely adverbially and does not require particles like 的 or 了 to indicate completion. It emphasizes chronological sequence rather than duration or deadline, and is rarely used with specific time markers like 'three days later' (for which 三天后 is preferred).