về sau
Definition
- Adverbial phrase:
- Later / Afterwards: Refers to a point in time that follows the current moment or a previously mentioned event.
- In the future: Indicates a time that is yet to come, often with a sense of subsequent consequence or development.
- To posterity / For later generations: In a formal or literary context, it can refer to the time after one's life or to future generations.
Usage Examples
- Adverbial phrase:
- Câu chuyện về sau mới trở nên thú vị. (The story only becomes interesting later.)
- Về sau, anh ấy đã trở thành một bác sĩ nổi tiếng. (Afterwards, he became a famous doctor.)
- Hãy nghĩ cho kỹ về sau. (Think carefully for the future.)
Advanced Usage
Used to contrast a past state with a subsequent change.
- Trước anh ấy rất nhút nhát, nhưng về sau thì hoàn toàn khác. (Before he was very shy, but later on he was completely different.)
Used in formal or proverbial contexts to address legacy.
- Làm điều tốt để tiếng thơm về sau. (Do good deeds to leave a good name for posterity.)
Variants and Related Words
Về sau này (adv. phrase): Later on, in the future. This form emphasizes a more distant or indefinite future time.
- Về sau này, con sẽ hiểu. (Later in life, you will understand.)
Về sau cùng (adv. phrase): Finally, in the end. Indicates the last event in a sequence.
- Sau nhiều tranh cãi, về sau cùng họ cũng đồng ý. (After much argument, in the end they agreed.)
Synonyms
- Sau này: Later, in the future.
- Sau đó: After that, subsequently.
- Sau đây: Following, hereafter (often for immediate future).
Related Idioms
- Trước mắt lo chưa xong, nghĩ gì về sau: Can't even handle the immediate problems, so why think about the future? (Equivalent to "cross that bridge when you come to it").
- Cứ giải quyết việc này đã, đừng nghĩ xa về sau. (Just solve this problem first, don't think far ahead about the future.)