Talk:者

5. "used after a number, 後／后 (hòu), or 前 (qián)"
Why are they called "numbers"? in 5. used after a number, 後／后 (hòu), or 前 (qián) --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:42, 23 December 2017 (UTC)


 * If I am not misinterpreting your sentence, I think you are misinterpreting the original sentence. It can be used after
 * 1. a number (as in 三者)
 * 2. or 後 (as in 後者)
 * 3. or 前 (as in 前者).
 * —suzukaze (t・c) 10:46, 23 December 2017 (UTC)

Etymology
Perhaps from 之 (OC *tə) with endoactive -ʔ, literally "that which is it" ? However the A vowel would be phonologically problematic Maybe from an older apophonic root or variant of 之? 37.169.33.51 17:29, 31 July 2023 (UTC)