Meaning and Usage
The term '식후' literally means 'after a meal' or 'post-meal'. It is commonly used in medical, health, and daily life contexts to indicate actions or instructions that should be done following eating.
Common Contexts
You will often see '식후' in medication instructions, such as '식후 복용' (take after meals), emphasizing when to take medicine to avoid stomach irritation or improve absorption. It is also used when giving advice about activities like walking or resting after eating.
Collocations and Patterns
- 식후 약 (medicine after meals): used in prescriptions or health advice.
- 식후 산책 (walk after meals): common health recommendation.
- 식후 30분 (30 minutes after eating): a time frame often mentioned for activities or medication.
Register and Politeness
'식후' is a neutral, formal noun used mostly in written or formal spoken Korean, especially in health-related contexts. It is not casual conversation vocabulary but appears in instructions, signs, and formal advice.
Learner Tips
Do not confuse '식후' with '식전' (before meals). Both are often used in medical contexts but have opposite meanings. Remember that '식후' always refers to the period after eating, so actions or instructions linked to it happen post-meal.