以后 / 然后 / 后来【yǐhòu / ránhòu / hòulái】

以后, 然后 and 后来 all point to something that comes after. Each fits its own slot, and they don't swap.

After a verb or a time: 以后

Only 以后 can follow a verb phrase or a time word to make "after X". 然后 and 后来 stand on their own.

• × 下课然后我去图书馆 → 下课以后我去图书馆
• × 吃饭后来我们去散步 → 吃饭以后我们去散步

The next step: 然后

然后 links steps in order: plans, instructions, or a list of what happened. It works for past and future alike, and often pairs with 先 "first".

Later in a story: 后来

后来 is only about the past, and it implies time has passed: a change, the next chapter. It doesn't list steps.

The future: 以后

On its own at the front, 以后 means "in the future" or "from now on". 后来 can't do this.

• × 后来我想当老师 → 以后我想当老师