Definitions
About
者 now functions primarily as an agentive suffix, like English *-er*, forming nouns for people or entities with a given trait (e.g. 学者 'scholar', 劳动者 'worker'). In classical Chinese it served as a demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' or 'that'. Originally, however, the character depicted a paper mulberry tree, a plant now written 楮. A distinguishing mark 口 was added later, and over time the tree and the mark evolved into the modern components 耂 and 日. Its current meaning is a phonetic loan; the original 'mulberry' sense is obsolete.
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。
Report an issue
Flag incorrect definitions, examples, etymology, etc.