after
She arrived after the meeting had started.
Sie kam an, nachdem die Besprechung schon begonnen hatte.
nach (zeitlich)
We'll leave after breakfast.
Wir werden nach dem Frühstück gehen.
The day after tomorrow is Saturday.
Der Tag nach morgen ist Samstag.
Used to indicate time sequence or later than a point in time.
hinter (örtlich)
She ran after him.
Sie rannte hinter ihm her.
Indicates following in space or pursuit.
gemäß (entsprechend)
After the law, all citizens are equal.
Gemäß dem Gesetz sind alle Bürger gleich.
Used to indicate conformity or accordance.
trotz (obwohl)
After all his efforts, he failed.
Trotz all seiner Bemühungen ist er gescheitert.
Conveys contrast or unexpected outcome.
Kollokationen
Verwandte Ausdrücke
Profi-Tipp
Temporal vs. Spatial Use
For time, use 'nach' (e.g., 'after dinner' → 'nach dem Abendessen'). For physical following, use 'hinter' (e.g., 'after him' → 'hinter ihm her').
Goldene Regel
Prepositional Phrases
Always pair 'after' with a noun or pronoun in German (e.g., 'after the movie' → 'nach dem Film').
Wortursprung
Old English 'æfter', of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'na' and German 'nach'.
Verwendungshinweise
Common in temporal and spatial contexts. In German, 'nach' is the primary equivalent, but 'hinter' may be used for physical following. 'After' can also imply contrast or concession in informal speech.