Keywords: 笔者, bizhe, Chinese for author, formal I in Chinese, Chinese pronoun, writer in Chinese, what does bizhe mean, 我 vs 笔者, academic Chinese, formal Chinese writing, how to say “I the writer” in Mandarin.
Summary: 笔者 (bǐzhě) is a formal, written first-person pronoun in Chinese that translates to “I (the author)” or “the writer.” It is used exclusively in writing—such as academic papers, books, and formal articles—to refer to oneself with a tone of humility and objectivity. Understanding 笔者 is essential for anyone reading or writing formal Chinese prose, as it distinguishes the author's voice from the standard, everyday “I” (我, wǒ).
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): bǐ zhě
Part of Speech: Pronoun
HSK Level: N/A (Considered an advanced/literary term)
Concise Definition: A formal, written pronoun used by an author to refer to themselves.
In a Nutshell: Think of 笔者 as the Chinese equivalent of an academic writer in English saying “the present author” or “this writer” instead of just “I”. It's a way to step back, sound more objective, and show a bit of traditional humility. You will only ever see it in text; you will almost never hear it spoken.
Character Breakdown
笔 (bǐ): This character originally depicted a hand holding a writing brush. Its core meaning is “pen,” “brush,” or “writing instrument.”
者 (zhě): This is a versatile suffix that indicates a person associated with an action or quality, similar to “-er,” “-ist,” or “one who” in English. For example, 记者 (jìzhě) is a “record-er,” or journalist.
When combined, 笔者 (bǐzhě) literally means “the one with the pen,” which naturally extends to mean “the writer” or “the author,” used from a first-person perspective.
Cultural Context and Significance
In traditional Chinese literary culture, humility and objectivity are highly valued virtues. Using the standard pronoun 我 (wǒ), or “I,” in formal writing could be seen as overly direct, subjective, or even arrogant.
笔者 (bǐzhě) serves as a tool to create a respectful distance between the author and their work. By referring to themselves as “the one with the pen,” the writer shifts the focus from their personal identity to their role as a creator of the text. This subtly places the work itself on a higher pedestal than the individual who wrote it.
Comparison to Western Culture: This concept is similar to the use of the passive voice or third-person self-references in English academic writing (e.g., “It was found that…” instead of “I found that…”). However, 笔者 is a more direct and standardized pronoun for this purpose. While an English writer might occasionally use “this author,” a Chinese writer in a formal context will consistently use 笔者. It's less of a stylistic choice and more of a convention of the formal register.
Practical Usage in Modern China
Strictly Written: The most important rule for 笔者 is that it belongs to the written word. It is found in book prefaces, academic theses, formal essays, newspaper opinion columns, and official reports. Using it in spoken conversation would sound bizarrely stilted and pretentious.
Formality: It signals a high level of formality and education. When you see 笔者, you immediately know you are reading a serious, structured piece of writing.
Connotation: The connotation is neutral to positive, implying objectivity, scholarly distance, and a humble-yet-authoritative voice. It's a standard feature of formal prose, not an emotional or colored term. A common and useful phrase is 笔者认为 (bǐzhě rènwéi), meaning “I (the author) believe/think that…”.
English: I (the author) believe that this issue needs to be analyzed from multiple perspectives.
Analysis: This is a classic opening for presenting an argument in an academic paper or formal essay. It establishes the author's stance in an objective tone.
English: The author consulted a large number of documents during the writing process.
Analysis: A statement about the research process, often found in a methodology section or preface.
Example 8:
这正是笔者写这篇文章的目的。
Pinyin: Zhè zhèngshì bǐzhě xiě zhè piān wénzhāng de mùdì.
English: This is precisely the purpose for which the author wrote this article.
Analysis: A clear and formal way to state one's thesis or intention.
Example 9:
笔者以为，这种解释过于简单化了。
Pinyin: Bǐzhě yǐwéi, zhè zhǒng jiěshì guòyú jiǎndānhuà le.
English: In the author's opinion, this explanation is too simplistic.
Analysis: “以为” (yǐwéi) is a softer way of saying “to think” or “to assume.” Paired with 笔者, it creates a very polite and scholarly tone of disagreement.
English: The author hopes this analysis can provide some inspiration to the reader.
Analysis: A humble closing statement often found at the end of an article or chapter.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Don't Use it in Speech: This is the biggest mistake a learner can make. If you introduce yourself in a conversation by saying `你好，笔者是… (Nǐ hǎo, bǐzhě shì…)`, it would be grammatically “correct” but socially bizarre. You must use 我 (wǒ).
笔者 (bǐzhě) vs. 作者 (zuòzhě): These are easily confused.
笔者 (bǐzhě) is a first-person pronoun. It means “I, the author.” You use it to refer to yourself when you are writing.
作者 (zuòzhě) is a third-person noun. It means “the author.” You use it to refer to someone else who wrote something.
Example:
`笔者认为这本书很好。` (Bǐzhě rènwéi zhè běn shū hěn hǎo.) → I (the one writing this sentence) think this book is very good.
`这本书的作者认为这本书很好。` (Zhè běn shū de zuòzhě rènwéi zhè běn shū hěn hǎo.) → The author of this book (someone else) thinks this book is very good.
Related Terms and Concepts
我 (wǒ): The standard, everyday pronoun for “I” or “me.” Use this in 99% of spoken and informal written situations.
作者 (zuòzhě): A noun meaning “author” or “writer.” Used to talk about an author in the third person.
本人 (běnrén): A more formal way to say “I, myself” or “in person.” Used in legal documents, formal applications, and official self-introductions, but still more versatile than 笔者.
小编 (xiǎobiān): Literally “little editor.” An informal and friendly first-person pronoun used by writers of blogs, social media accounts, and online articles to create a cute, approachable persona. The opposite of 笔者 in terms of formality.
鄙人 (bìrén): An archaic and extremely humble pronoun for “I,” meaning “this humble person.” You would mainly see this in historical texts or for comedic effect today.
在下 (zàixià): Another archaic and humble “I,” literally “the one below.” Common in wuxia (martial arts hero) stories.
笔者认为 (bǐzhě rènwéi): A very common set phrase meaning “I (the author) believe that…” It's a key phrase for academic and argumentative writing.
本文 (běnwén): “This article” or “this text.” Often used in conjunction with 笔者, e.g., `本文是笔者…` (This article is this author's…).