兩者均可表示“在…之后”,其區(qū)別是:
(1) after 主要用于時間或次序,behind 主要用于位置:
He decided to leave after lunch. 他決定午飯后離開。
Summer comes after spring. 春去夏來。
The hospital is behind the post office. 醫(yī)院在郵局后面。
behind 有時也用于時間,表示“遲于”,主要用于behind time (遲,晚)這一習(xí)語:
The train was 20 minutes behind time. 火車晚點(diǎn) 20 分鐘。
(2) 兩者都可用于引申義,after 側(cè)重指追求、尋找、模仿等;而behind 則側(cè)重指在背后、支持、落后等:
The police are after her. 警察在追捕她。
Many young people are after her. 許多年輕人都追求她。
We are behind you completely. 我們完全支持你。
He is behind the others in maths. 他的數(shù)學(xué)不如別人。