直後(ちょくご)

ちょくご
noun
immediately after
See also: 直前(ちょくぜん) (immediately before)
1. immediately after, right after
The moment or period directly following an event.
事故(じこ)直後(ちょくご)に警察(けいさつ)が到着(とうちゃく)した。
The police arrived immediately after the accident.
食事(しょくじ)直後(ちょくご)の運動(うんどう)は避(さ)けた方(ほう)がいい。
It's better to avoid exercise right after eating.
出発(しゅっぱつ)直後(ちょくご)に雨(あめ)が降(ふ)り出(だ)した。
It started raining right after we departed.
目(め)が覚(さ)めた直後(ちょくご)は、まだ頭(あたま)がぼんやりしている。
Right after waking up, my head is still foggy.
地震(じしん)の直後(ちょくご)は電話(でんわ)がつながりにくくなるので、家族(かぞく)との連絡(れんらく)方法(ほうほう)を決(き)めておいた方(ほう)がいい。
Right after an earthquake, phone lines become hard to reach, so it's best to decide on a way to contact family in advance.

直後(ちょくご) means the moment or very short period immediately following an event. It emphasizes how soon after — there is no gap.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • noun + 直後(ちょくご): 事故(じこ)直後(ちょくご) (immediately after the accident)
  • verb た-form + 直後(ちょくご): 食(た)べた直後(ちょくご) (right after eating)
  • の直後(ちょくご): 出発(しゅっぱつ)の直後(ちょくご) (right after departure)

CONTRAST:

  • 直前(ちょくぜん): immediately before (the opposite)
  • すぐ後(あと): right after (slightly more casual)
  • 後(あと): after (general, no emphasis on immediacy)

USAGE:
Common in news, instructions, and descriptions of sequences. Often used to highlight cause-and-effect relationships or sudden changes.

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Added 2026.1.14 9:33 · Revised 2026.4.3 20:49
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