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弱者 (ruò zhě) — the weak; vulnerable people

Definition

Literally 'the weak ones', often used as a category vs. its antonym 强者. Refers to vulnerable people or disadvantaged groups, not physical weakness alone.

noun
the weakvulnerable people
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 弱者。
    Shè huì yīng gāi bǎo hù ruò zhě.
    Society should protect the weak.
  • 弱者。
    Qiáng zhě bú yīng gāi qī fu ruò zhě.
    The strong should not bully the weak.
  • ，弱者。
    Zài zhè chǎng jìng zhēng zhōng, ruò zhě hěn róng yì bèi táo tài.
    In this competition, the weak can easily be eliminated.

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.

弱ruòweak
者zhěone/thing that

弱 gives weakness; 者 points to those who have it.

Characters in this word

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →

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 →
Appears in
People (General)Social Roles & Status

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