前者 (qián zhě) — the former (as opposed to the latter)

Definition

前者 means 'the former' of two things just mentioned, paired with 后者 ('the latter'). It is not a time word — use 之前/此前 for 'before'.

noun

the former (as opposed to the latter)

前者。
qián zhě Hé hòu zhě dōu shì hěn hǎo de xuǎn zé.
The former and the latter are both good choices.
前者，。
Wǒ gèng xǐ huan qián zhě, yīn wèi tā gèng pián yi.
I prefer the former because it's cheaper.
，前者。
Bǐ jiào zhè liǎng zhǒng fāng fǎ, qián zhě gèng yǒu xiào.
Comparing these two methods, the former is more effective.

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

者zhěthe one that is

The sense comes from 前, 'former', with 者 meaning 'the one that is'.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

In the older form of 前, 止 (foot) and 舟 (boat) showed a foot on a boat moving forward; in the current 前 those parts are shortened.

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The form 者 originally drew a sugarcane with full stems, small points around it, and an open smiling mouth at the bottom.

Appears in