back, behind, after

後 is composed of 彳 (path), 幺 (rope), and a variant of 夂 (walk slowly). 彳 represents a road or path, 幺 depicts a tied bundle of silk threads, and 夊 represents the sole of a foot. 後 conveys a foot bound by rope, preventing a person from moving forward—thus representing lagging behind, rear, or after in time and space.