食後

This term refers to the period immediately following a meal. While it is a common temporal marker in daily life, it carries a specific technical weight in medical contexts. In prescriptions, "shokugo" (after meals) is a critical instruction to ensure the medication is absorbed correctly or to protect the stomach lining from irritation.

In a social or culinary context, it often marks the transition from the main course to the dessert or beverage phase of a meal. It implies a state of satiety and a shift toward relaxation or digestion.

It is the direct antonym of 食前 (shokuzen), which means "before a meal." Together, these terms form a pair used frequently in health, diet, and etiquette discussions. Unlike the more casual phrase 食べた後(tabeta ato), 食後 is a formal noun that can be used in both spoken and written Japanese, including professional medical documents.