<p>I'll just talk about my own understanding here.</p>

<p>家 says that someone is so professional and experienced, and may have reputation so that he/she can be regarded as a master or authority in his/her field, e.g. 武术家, which means a martial art master.</p>

<p>师 often emphasizes occupation or job, compare 画家 and 画师.</p>

<p>员 is usually related to staff or crew.</p>

<p>者 is formal, as Mike says, and also general.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-11T00:00:19.413Z
I'd like to add that 員 is usually used when the person is part of a group, such as staff at a company or a member of a sports team.
Olle Linge
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-11T05:47:34.947Z
@OlleLinge Agreed :)
pjhades
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-22T03:52:31.280Z
example for 員：網絡管理員 administrator cf. 管理者 manager
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-08T06:24:20.990Z
2013-02-08T07:51:27.953Z
2013-02-08T07:51:27.953Z
pjhades
<p>I am a native Mandarin speaker, and I would say that your translation for "sole developer, designer, artist, and writer" is quite OK and in my point of view is good enough for your CV.</p>

<p>As a native speaker, I never think of the differences among 家,师,员 and 者. There are some rules as PJ.Hades and Mike Manilone explained in their answers, but following those rules do not guarantee a proper usage. There are many exceptions and you have to look at each case individually like Stumpy Joe Pete replied in your question.</p>

<p>Going back to your question, I actually would suggest you to translate "sole developer" to "开发者" instead of “开发人员”. Not saying your translation is not correct, but being a software developer myself, I would prefer "者" to "人员", because "人员" refers more often to one in a staff or crew.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-08T08:56:46.250Z
2013-02-08T22:45:03.230Z
2013-02-08T22:45:03.230Z
Jifeng Zhang
<p>Don't try to find any rule such as grammar that can direct you how to speak Chinese like a PC program. For this problem, just "死记", this is the only way. Any other method will waste you more time and give you more pain. Only one thing you need to have in mind: "家" usually means an expert.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-14T06:02:23.223Z
2013-02-14T06:02:23.223Z
Zhou Heng
<p>家 means someone who is really good at this domain. For example, writer can be 写作者 and also 作家. A 作家 is a well-known 写作者.</p>

<p>师 isn't often used, often used for designing. designer -> 设计师, architect -> 构架师.</p>

<p>员 isn't often used, often used for 人员.</p>

<p>者, the most normal word, almost everything can use this. For example, developer is 开发者.</p>

<p>And of course, there will be some exceptions.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-08T04:12:50.953Z
2013-02-08T04:12:50.953Z
Mike Manilone
<p>I'm translating my resume into Chinese so I can maybe apply for a Chinese job. </p>

<p>There are a number of items on there where I'm not sure when to use 家, 师, 员, or 者.</p>

<p>Example, I developed a comics website, <a href="http://HittingTreesWithSticks.com" rel="nofollow">Hitting Trees with Sticks.com</a> where I was the <strong>sole developer, designer, artist, and writer.</strong></p>

<p>I translated it as this, but am not sure if I'm correct:</p>

<pre><code>其他          Hitting Trees with Sticks.com, 漫画与艺术        四月‘12年到至今   
        唯一的网站开发人员，设计师，艺术家以及作者
</code></pre>

<p>Are there some rules I can use to determine when I should use which?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-07T17:54:55.740Z
I'd say that it's almost purely lexical. I suppose you could make some vague observation about "家" being associated with the arts or "人员" sounding formal and corporate, but you're still going to have to **look at each case individually**. I don't think there's a shortcut to be had.
Stumpy Joe Pete
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-02-10T07:20:08.973Z
I think memorization is the key in Chinese. Also if doesn't sound right to you, then probably there is something wrong.
Derek 朕會功夫
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-21T16:34:09.707Z
There's another "士" that can join the club. 民主人士， 戰士， 官方人士
George
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-08-22T03:55:08.027Z
艺术家 is not the thing you want to put into your resume though, @Growler, 开发者和设计者 may suit your need
George
<meaning><translation>
When to use 家 vs 师 vs 员 vs 者
# When to use 家 vs 师 vs 员 vs 者

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-07)

I'm translating my resume into Chinese so I can maybe apply for a Chinese job.

There are a number of items on there where I'm not sure when to use 家, 师, 员, or 者.

Example, I developed a comics website, [Hitting Trees with Sticks.com](http://HittingTreesWithSticks.com) where I was the **sole developer, designer, artist, and writer.**

I translated it as this, but am not sure if I'm correct:

```
其他          Hitting Trees with Sticks.com, 漫画与艺术        四月‘12年到至今   
        唯一的网站开发人员，设计师，艺术家以及作者

```

Are there some rules I can use to determine when I should use which?

**Tags:** meaning, translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'd say that it's almost purely lexical. I suppose you could make some vague observation about "家" being associated with the arts or "人员" sounding formal and corporate, but you're still going to have to **look at each case individually**. I don't think there's a shortcut to be had.  
> **username_2**: I think memorization is the key in Chinese. Also if doesn't sound right to you, then probably there is something wrong.  
> **username_3**: There's another "士" that can join the club. 民主人士， 戰士， 官方人士  
> **username_3**: 艺术家 is not the thing you want to put into your resume though, @Growler, 开发者和设计者 may suit your need  

---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2013-02-08. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

I'll just talk about my own understanding here.

家 says that someone is so professional and experienced, and may have reputation so that he/she can be regarded as a master or authority in his/her field, e.g. 武术家, which means a martial art master.

师 often emphasizes occupation or job, compare 画家 and 画师.

员 is usually related to staff or crew.

者 is formal, as username_8 says, and also general.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: I'd like to add that 員 is usually used when the person is part of a group, such as staff at a company or a member of a sports team.  
> **username_4**: @username_5 Agreed :)  
> **username_3**: example for 員：網絡管理員 administrator cf. 管理者 manager  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2013-02-08. Score: 3

I am a native Mandarin speaker, and I would say that your translation for "sole developer, designer, artist, and writer" is quite OK and in my point of view is good enough for your CV.

As a native speaker, I never think of the differences among 家,师,员 and 者. There are some rules as PJ.Hades and username_8 username_8 explained in their answers, but following those rules do not guarantee a proper usage. There are many exceptions and you have to look at each case individually like username_1 Joe username_1 replied in your question.

Going back to your question, I actually would suggest you to translate "sole developer" to "开发者" instead of “开发人员”. Not saying your translation is not correct, but being a software developer myself, I would prefer "者" to "人员", because "人员" refers more often to one in a staff or crew.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2013-02-14. Score: 1

Don't try to find any rule such as grammar that can direct you how to speak Chinese like a PC program. For this problem, just "死记", this is the only way. Any other method will waste you more time and give you more pain. Only one thing you need to have in mind: "家" usually means an expert.


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2013-02-08. Score: 0

家 means someone who is really good at this domain. For example, writer can be 写作者 and also 作家. A 作家 is a well-known 写作者.

师 isn't often used, often used for designing. designer -> 设计师, architect -> 构架师.

员 isn't often used, often used for 人员.

者, the most normal word, almost everything can use this. For example, developer is 开发者.

And of course, there will be some exceptions.


---

