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)