‘饭后’ literally combines ‘饭’ (fàn, meaning 'cooked rice' or more broadly 'meal') and ‘后’ (hòu, meaning 'after' or 'behind'). Together, it means 'after meals'—a time expression referring to the period following any main meal, most commonly lunch or dinner. It functions as both a noun (e.g., '饭后是散步的好时间') and an adverb (e.g., '饭后刷牙') without needing additional particles.

This term is widely used in daily life, health advice, and medical instructions—such as when doctors recommend taking medication '饭后服用' (to be taken after meals) or nutritionists suggest waiting before exercising. Unlike '餐后', which sounds slightly more formal or clinical, '饭后' is neutral and conversational, fitting naturally in spoken and written Mandarin. It does not specify which meal unless context clarifies (e.g., '午饭后' for 'after lunch'), but on its own usually implies the most recent or most relevant main meal.