來者

來者

1. (literary) future generations

   • 此人皆意有所鬱結，不得通其道，故述往事，思來者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     此人皆意有所郁结，不得通其道，故述往事，思来者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 1st century BCE, Sima Qian, Letter to Ren An. Translated by Burton Watson.

     Cǐrén jiē yì yǒusuǒ yùjié, bùdé tōng qí dào, gù shù wǎngshì, sī láizhě.

     All these men had a rankling in their hearts, for they were not able to accomplish what they wished. Therefore they wrote about past affairs in order to pass on their thoughts to future generations.

   • 前不見古人，後不見來者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     前不见古人，后不见来者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: c. late 7th century, Chen Zi'ang (陳子昂), On a Gate-Tower at Youzhou (《登幽州臺歌》). English translation by Witter Bynner.

     Qián bùjiàn gǔrén, hòu bùjiàn láizhě.

     Where, before me, are the ages that have gone?
     And where, behind me, are the coming generations?

2. (literary) the future; future events

   • 楚狂接輿歌而過孔子曰：「鳳兮鳳兮，何德之衰！往者不可諫，來者猶可追。」 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     楚狂接舆歌而过孔子曰：「凤兮凤兮，何德之衰！往者不可谏，来者犹可追。」 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Chǔ kuáng Jiēyú gē ér guò Kǒngzǐ yuē: “Fèng xī fèng xī, hé dé zhī shuāi! Wǎngzhě bùkě jiàn, láizhě yóukě zhuī.”

     The madman of Chu, Jie Yu, passed by Confucius, singing and saying, "O Feng! O Feng! How is your virtue degenerated! As to the past, reproof is useless; but the future may still be provided against."

   • 悟已往之不諫，知來者之可追。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     悟已往之不谏，知来者之可追。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: 405, Tao Yuanming (陶淵明), Home Again! (《歸去來辭》). English translation by Herbert Allen Giles.

     Wù yǐwǎng zhī bùjiàn, zhī láizhě zhī kězhuī.

     But I will waste no grief upon the past: I will devote my energies to the future.

3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see 來 / 来 (lái),‎ 者 (zhě).

   來者不拒／来者不拒  ―  láizhěbùjù  ―  to accept all requests; to meet every challenge

   1. (archaic) one coming to pay homage; submitter

      • 敬逆來者，天所福也。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        敬逆来者，天所福也。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: Commentary of Zuo, c. 4^th century BCE

        Jìng nì láizhě, tiān suǒfú yě.

        To receive those who come in submission with respect, this is what Heaven would grant favour for.

   2. (archaic) the following; the next in sequence; follow-up

      • 賜也，始可與言《詩》已矣。告諸往，而知來者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
        赐也，始可与言《诗》已矣。告诸往，而知来者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

        From: The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

        Cì yě, shǐ kě yǔ yán “Shī” yǐ yǐ. Gào zhū wǎng, ér zhī láizhě.

        With one like Ci, I can begin to talk about the Odes. I told him one point, and he knew its proper sequence.