落后 (luòhòu) — to fall behind; backward

落后 (luòhòu)

To fall behind in development, progress, or competition is the core sense of 落后, a word used widely in economic, educational, and social contexts.

Meanings

1. [verb] to fall behind; to lag behind
2. [adjective] backward; underdeveloped; outdated

Example Sentences

他在比赛中落后了五分钟。 Tā zài bǐsài zhōng luòhòu le wǔ fēnzhōng. He fell five minutes behind in the race.

这个地区的经济发展相对落后。 Zhège dìqū de jīngjì fāzhǎn xiāngduì luòhòu. The economic development of this region is relatively backward.

如果不学习新技术，企业很快就会落后。 Rúguǒ bù xuéxí xīn jìshù, qǐyè hěn kuài jiù huì luòhòu. If a company does not learn new technologies, it will quickly fall behind.

落后的基础设施阻碍了当地的发展。 Luòhòu de jīchǔ shèshī zǔ'àile dāngdì de fāzhǎn. Backward infrastructure has hindered local development.

他努力学习，不想在同学中落后。 Tā nǔlì xuéxí, bù xiǎng zài tóngxué zhōng luòhòu. He studies hard because he does not want to fall behind his classmates.

改革的目的是消除落后的生产方式。 Gǎigé de mùdì shì xiāochú luòhòu de shēngchǎn fāngshì. The purpose of the reform is to eliminate backward modes of production.

Collocations

Usage Notes

落后 can function as both a verb and an attributive adjective. As a verb it often takes a time or degree complement (落后了三分钟, 落后很多). As an adjective it precedes a noun (落后的技术). It carries a mildly negative connotation and is common in formal writing about development and competition.

At the B2 level, pay attention to the structure 落后于 + noun, which means "to lag behind" a specific benchmark, e.g., 落后于世界水平 (to lag behind world standards).

Memory Hook

Imagine a runner whose foot (落, to fall) is stuck at the back (后) of the track -- always falling behind.