later

Compared meaning: after a time or event (adverb).

比较义项：以后，随后（副词）。

• later 本词

  Often follows a specific time expression or duration ('a little later', 'two days later') and is common in casual spoken English, including as a stand-alone farewell ('See you later').

  常跟在具体的时间词或时间段后面（如“a little later”“two days later”），在口语中非常随意，也可单独用作告别语（“See you later”）。

  I will call you back a little later tonight.

  我今晚晚点儿再给你回电话。

• afterwards

  More neutral or formal, used to sequence events in a narrative or account without stating how much time passed; it does not normally follow a duration phrase.

  语气更中性或正式，用于按顺序讲述一件事之后发生的另一件事，并不说明具体过去了多长时间，通常不跟在表示时间段的短语后面。

  We had dinner and went for a walk afterwards.

  我们吃了晚饭，然后散了会儿步。

Later and afterwards both mean after an event. Later often follows a specific time word, like a little later, and is common in casual speech. Afterwards is more formal, used to order events in a story, and does not follow a duration phrase.

这两个词都表示“在某个时间点或事件之后”，但 later 常直接接在具体时间长度后面、口语中也很随意；afterwards 更强调事件发生的先后顺序，语气略正式，多用于书面叙述，一般不与具体时间长度连用。