Definitions
(particle)
one who (is)... [suffix after verb; adjective to indicate person]; person who does...
(particle)
-er; -ist [suffix forming nouns denoting people]
(particle)
that which was mentioned before [used after numbers or 前 (before) ; 后 (after), meaning the former; latter]
About
The character "者" originated in classical Chinese as a demonstrative pronoun before evolving into a nominalizing suffix. Its traditional form is composed of the components "耂", a variant of "老" associated with age, and "日" meaning sun, though this structure does not directly illustrate the character's original function. Over time, its primary role shifted from independent reference to attaching to verbal or adjectival roots, forming nouns that denote persons engaged in an action or possessing a quality, such as "学者" for scholar, which solidified its grammatical purpose in the language.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
他是这本书的作者。
强者往往不怕困难。
旅行者喜欢探索新的地方。
如果读者有建议，请告诉我。
这位记者比那位更有经验。
作为研究者，她发表了许多论文。
成功者往往善于把握机会。
环保者的努力正改变着我们的世界。