后续
hòuxù · HSK 7
follow up
➡️ 后续 = 后 (after) + 续 (continue): what continues after = the follow up
后 means after or behind; 续 means to continue or extend. Stack them and the after-continuation is the follow-up. Pronounced hòuxù, both syllables fall sharply, matching the second-then-fourth tone drop.
后 — 厂 cliff + 一 + 口 mouth
Originally depicted a ruler or sovereign issuing commands, showing a figure with a mouth giving orders. It came to mean 'queen' or 'empress.' In modern simplified Chinese, 后 also absorbed the meaning 'behind/after' from the traditional character 後, so context decides which sense applies.
续 — silk radical 糹+ 賣 (sell, phonetic)
续 is the simplified form of 續. The silk radical 糹 signals the original meaning of joining threads end-to-end, while 賣 served as the phonetic component. From 'splicing silk' the meaning broadened to 'continue, connect, extend' in general use.