…者，…也
A is B: the classical way to say 是
Structure
A 者 ， B 也
What it means
A is B: the classical judgement sentence, where modern Chinese would use 是.
How it is built
A + 者，B + 也: 陈胜者，阳城人也 (Chen Sheng was a man of Yangcheng).
When to use it
Early classical Chinese rarely used 是 as “to be”; 是 usually meant “this”. 者 marks the topic and 也 closes the judgement. 者 survives in 作者, 读者, 记者, 前者, 弱者.
Watch out
The frame itself says “is”, so don’t add 是: ✗ 陈胜者，是阳城人也. And 也 here is not “also”: it closes the statement.
Examples
陈胜者，阳城人也。
Chen Sheng was a man of Yangcheng.
师者，所以传道受业解惑也。
A teacher is one who passes on the Way, gives instruction and resolves doubts.
Learn this in Lesson 206 · HSK 9+: 文言入门：之乎者也 (Classical Chinese: the four little words)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. This lesson is free.
Open the lesson →