者
someone · person
Details
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Abbreviated form of old. Elder, person who does.
Symbolism
Person, expert, agent. Represents person with role.
Component Breakdown
耂 + sun
Words & Expressions
Four-Character Compounds
我武者羅
がむしゃら
reckless; daredevil; frantic
生者必滅
しょうじゃひつめつ
all living things must die
千両役者
せんりょうやくしゃ
star (actor); prima donna; leading figure
二者選一
にしゃせんいつ
choosing between two things; two choices
二者択一
にしゃたくいつ
choosing between two things; two choices
盛者必衰
じょうしゃひっすい
even the prosperous inevitably decay; sic transit gloria mundi; all that's fair must fade
武者修行
むしゃしゅぎょう
traveling about to gain skill in combat (travelling)
適者生存
てきしゃせいぞん
survival of the fittest
親類縁者
しんるいえんじゃ
one's relatives by blood and marriage (in blood and law); one's kith and kin
会者定離
えしゃじょうり
those who meet must part (suggesting the transient nature of this life); we meet only to part
知者不惑
ちしゃふわく
a wise person always follows the right course; a wise man never wavers
益者三友
えきしゃさんゆう
three kinds of beneficial friends: straightforward, sincere, and well-informed ones
愚者一得
ぐしゃいっとく
even a fool may sometimes give good counsel
三者鼎立
さんしゃていりつ
three parties (forces) opposing one another; three-cornered contest
三者三様
さんしゃさんよう
each of the three being different from the other two; each of the three having his (her) own way
損者三友
そんしゃさんゆう
three kinds of harmful friends: hypocritical, sycophantic, and glib-talking ones
貧者一灯
ひんじゃのいっとう
one's mite; widow's mite; one lantern from a poor man (i.e. no-one can give more than the only thing they have)
Proverbs & Idioms
勝てば官軍、負ければ賊軍
かてばかんぐん、まければぞくぐん
Winners are the government army, losers are rebels
History is written by the winners
Anime & Manga
盾の勇者の成り上がり
The Rising of the Shield Hero
A well-known work with 者 in its Japanese title.
陰の実力者になりたくて！
The Eminence in Shadow
A well-known work with 者 in its Japanese title.
魔王学院の不適合者 ～史上最強の魔王の始祖、転生して子孫たちの学校へ通う～
The Misfit of Demon King Academy: History’s Strongest Demon King Reincarnates and Goes to School with His Descendants
A well-known work with 者 in its Japanese title.
世界最高の暗殺者、異世界貴族に転生する
The World's Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World as an Aristocrat
A well-known work with 者 in its Japanese title.
慎重勇者～この勇者が俺ＴＵＥＥＥくせに慎重すぎる～
Cautious Hero: The Hero Is Overpowered but Overly Cautious
A well-known work with 者 in its Japanese title.
Other kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 者 mean in Japanese?
者 means someone, person.
How do you read 者?
On'yomi: シャ (SHA). Kun'yomi: もの (mono).
How many strokes does 者 have?
者 has 8 strokes. Its radical is 老 (old).
Is 者 a good kanji for a tattoo?
者 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means someone, person. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.