1.
volunteer; willing participant; person who steps forward
A person who voluntarily offers to participate in or support an activity, cause, or movement. Emphasizes the person's own initiative and willingness rather than being assigned or obligated.
Compound of 有志 ('having a will; volunteering') and 者 ('person'). The base word 有志 alone is more commonly used to mean 'volunteers' or 'willing participants,' and 有志者 adds the person suffix for extra clarity.
Usage
In practice, 有志 without 者 is more common in everyday use. 有志者 appears in slightly more formal or written contexts. Both can function identically in most sentences.
Common collocations
- 有志者を募る: to call for volunteers
- 有志者が集まる: volunteers gather
- 有志者による寄付: donations by willing participants
- 有志者の協力: cooperation of volunteers
Similar words
- 有志: volunteer(s) — the shorter and more common form; often used without 者
- ボランティア: volunteer — the loanword; implies unpaid charitable work, while 有志者 emphasizes willingness
- 志願者: applicant; person who volunteers — someone who formally applies, especially for military service or a position
- 篤志家: philanthropist; benefactor — someone who generously donates money or resources