三者 (sān zhě) — the three; the three parties (in formal or analytical contexts)

Definition

Formal pronoun for 'the three' — refers to three people, things, or parties already named. Mostly used in analytical or written contexts, not everyday speech.

pronoun
the threethe three parties (in formal or analytical contexts)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 三者。
    sān zhě Zhī jiān de guān xì xū yào jìn yí bù xié tiáo.
    The relationship among the three parties needs further coordination.
  • 三者，？
    Yǐ shàng sān zhě, nǐ zuì tóng yì nǎ yí gè?
    Among the three above, which one do you most agree with?
  • 、三者。
    Gāi gōng sī, kè hù yǔ gōng yìng shāng sān zhě lì yì xiāng guān.
    The company, customers, and suppliers—all three have related interests.

Origin

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.

三sānthree
者zhěone/thing

三 'three' plus 者 refers to 'the three parties'.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

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.

Open 者 →

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