A Primer in Chinese Buddhist Writings

者 is most commonly used as a nominalizer; it makes a verb or verb phrase, or adjective a noun or noun phrase—the person or thing who carries out the verb or possesses the quality of the adjective.

Example 8.1

者 can often be translated as “one who is...”

Example 8.2

When the Bodhisattva, on a ride with his chariot driver outside the palace, for the first time sees a sick man...

Example 8.3

Example 8.4

Example 8.5

Example 8.6

者 does not always come immediately after the verb it nominalizes. We have seen this already in 8.1.

Example 8.7

The text continues...

Example 8.8

At times, rather than make a verb a noun, 者 marks the preceding word as the topic of the sentence.

Example 8.9

After seeing his first old man, the Bodhisattva asks his charioteer what old age is. His charioteer explains.

Example 8.10

Review 8

• 8.1 何有智者聞此因緣而不歡喜、起愛樂心？
• 8.2 太子顧問侍者「此為何人？」
• 8.3 夫出家者，欲調伏心意。
• 8.4 御者答曰「此是沙門」。
• 8.5 今為信受樂聽者說。
• 8.6 有此相者，當趣二處，必然無疑。
• 8.7 若其樂家者，當為轉輪王。
• 8.8 說三十二相。一者，足安平，足下平滿。
• 8.9 答曰「夫老者，生壽向盡。餘命無幾。故謂之老」。
• 8.10 爾時，父王給四乳母：一者乳哺、二者澡浴、三者塗香。四者娛樂。