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. [Pinyin]

     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. [Pinyin]

     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.” [Pinyin]

     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. [Pinyin]

     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. [Pinyin]

        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. [Pinyin]

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