後知恵(あとぢえ)

あとぢえ
noun
hindsight; wisdom after the fact
cognition
1. hindsight; wisdom after the fact
The understanding or insight that comes only after an event has occurred, when it is too late to change the outcome.
それは後知恵(あとぢえ)だ。
That's hindsight.
後知恵(あとぢえ)で批判(ひはん)するのは簡単(かんたん)だ。
It's easy to criticize with hindsight.
後知恵(あとぢえ)にすぎないが、あのとき別(べつ)の道(みち)を選(えら)ぶべきだった。
It's nothing but hindsight, but I should have chosen a different path at that time.

A compound of 後(あと) (after) and 知恵(ちえ) (wisdom). Refers to the tendency to see past events as having been predictable, or to realize the correct course of action only after the opportunity has passed. Often used critically to point out that someone's advice or analysis is only useful in retrospect.

Common collocations

  • 後知恵(あとぢえ)にすぎない: nothing but hindsight
  • 後知恵(あとぢえ)で言(い)う: to say with hindsight
  • 後知恵(あとぢえ)バイアス: hindsight bias

Similar words

  • 結果論(けっかろん): arguing from results — similar concept but emphasizes judging decisions based solely on outcomes
  • 先見(せんけん)の明(めい): foresight — the opposite quality, the ability to predict future events

Related Words

Compare: 先見(せんけん)の明(めい) (foresight)
general
Added 2026.4.28 23:07 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
25500/25959_atojie