1. matter; thing; a specific item or case
E.g.: 前者 (the former), 後者 (the latter)
2. person; thing; the subject of an action or state
E.g.: 作者 (author), 勇者 (hero)
3. an auxiliary character added to words expressing time
E.g.: 今者 (now, at present)
4. as for; if; when (an auxiliary character used for emphasis or to indicate a hypothetical condition)
