Ch 23 · Lesson 17Mandarin · Chapter 23 · Lesson 17 · Grammar primer
者: author, reader, journalist
after a verb names the person who does it: , reader; , journalist. New ones such as sound written; in speech, say .
The short version
？Zhè běn shū de zuòzhě shì shéi?
Why?Hide
(zhě) works like English -er: (dúzhě), reader; (jìzhě), journalist; (zuòzhě), author. Those are everyday words. New ones on two-syllable verbs, such as (shǐyòngzhě), user, sound written: in speech say (shǐyòng de rén).
The whole system on one screen
The colours stay the same all page long:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| dúzhě | reader |
| jìzhě | journalist |
| shǐyòngzhě | user (on a sign) |
| shǐyòng de rén | the people using it (said) |
| qiánzhě | the former |
(zhě) as a noun suffix is on the AQA GCSE Chinese specification at Higher tier, and so is (huòzhě), or.
Verb + 者 (zhě): the one who does it
Many of the commonest (zhě) words sit on a one-syllable verb. They are ordinary words, said every day, and you learn them one by one:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| zuòzhě | author ( zuò: write) |
| dúzhě | reader ( dú: read) |
| jìzhě | journalist (记 jì: record) |
| xuézhě | scholar ( xué: study) |
New ones are mostly built on two-syllable verbs, and they sound written, like English "user" or "participant" on a form:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| shǐyòngzhě | user |
| cānjiāzhě | participant |
| xuéxízhě | learner |
| guǎnlǐzhě | manager |
In a sentence: 。 (Zhè běn shū de zuòzhě shì yí wèi niánqīng xuézhě.), the author of this book is a young scholar.
In speech: 的人 (de rén)
Most two-syllable (zhě) words have a spoken twin with (de rén). They mean the same; only the register differs:
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| shǐyòngzhě | users (on a notice) |
| shǐyòng de rén | the people using it |
| cānjiāzhě | participants (on a form) |
| cānjiā de rén | the people taking part |
Could it be printed on a sign, a form or in a report? (zhě). Are you saying it to someone? (de rén).
You cannot add (zhě) to just any everyday one-syllable verb. There is no (chī zhě) for "eater" or (děng zhě) for "the people waiting": 。 (Wàimiàn děng de rén hěn duō.), lots of people are waiting outside.
Going further: 前者 (qiánzhě) and 后者 (hòuzhě): the former and the latter and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
9-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
Mandarin · Free printables
Worksheets for this lesson
Worksheets with answer keys built in. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekLesson 17 of 28 in this chapter