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師 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
師shīteacher, professional, masterzg, 10 strokes, radical 巾
shī(shi1)shi T1
  1. 1teacher, professional, master
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March 24, 2026

師shī(shi1)

The character 師 (shī) refers to a teacher, master, or professional in a specific field. It conveys a sense of respect and authority, often associated with someone who imparts knowledge or skills. This term is commonly used in educational and professional contexts, signifying expertise and mentorship.

Strokes10Radical巾
Cultural note

In Chinese culture, the concept of a 'master' or 師 goes beyond just teaching; it embodies a deep respect for knowledge and experience. This is evident in traditional practices like martial arts, where a 師傅 (shīfu) not only teaches skills but also imparts philosophical lessons.

Memory tip

Imagine a wise old master (師) standing in front of a classroom, pointing to a large book that represents knowledge. The character 師 has the radical 师 (shī), which looks like a person standing, symbolizing the teacher, combined with the idea of mastery and guidance.

Meanings of 師

shī(shi1)
1teacher, professional, master
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 師 means.

About 師

師Simplified
10Strokes
巾Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 師

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Podcast: 師

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AI study notes for 師

Quick Contrast

教师 (jiàoshī) vs 导师 (dǎoshī) — choose 師 (shī) for traditional or formal contexts, while 教师 (jiàoshī) is more specific to school teachers, and 导师 (dǎoshī) refers to a mentor or advisor.

Usage Notes

When using 師, it is important to distinguish between its formal and informal usages. For example, 師 can be used in titles like '老師' (lǎoshī) for school teachers, whereas in informal contexts, it might be used casually. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '诗' (shī), which means poetry.

HSK Study Tips

Although 師 is not assigned a specific HSK level, it is essential for learners at any level to understand its usage in professional and educational contexts. Students should focus on collocations like '老師' (teacher) and '師傅' (master craftsman) to see how it fits into everyday language.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 師 with similar characters like 诗 (shī, poetry) or 志 (zhì, will). For example, saying '我是一位诗' (wǒ shì yī wèi shī) incorrectly uses '诗' instead of '师'. The correct phrase would be '我是一位师' (wǒ shì yī wèi shī).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 師

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Etymology of 師

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Explanation

Simplified form of 師. Origin unclear.

Memory hint

To skillfully wield 帀 a knife 㠯

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 師?

Decomposition of 師

IDS Structure⿰⿱丿㠯帀
師Full character
=
丿pie3
top
㠯yi3
bottom
帀za1
Exercise 1 of 3

Parts

Which of these is part of 師?

How to say teacher, professional, master in Chinese

“teacher, professional, master” in Chinese is師shī

The character 師 (shī) refers to a teacher, master, or professional in a specific field. It conveys a sense of respect and authority, often associated with someone who imparts knowledge or skills. This term is commonly used in educational and professional contexts, signifying expertise and mentorship.

When to use 師

When using 師, it is important to distinguish between its formal and informal usages. For example, 師 can be used in titles like '老師' (lǎoshī) for school teachers, whereas in informal contexts, it might be used casually. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '诗' (shī), which means poetry.

師 or something close to it

教师 (jiàoshī) vs 导师 (dǎoshī) — choose 師 (shī) for traditional or formal contexts, while 教师 (jiàoshī) is more specific to school teachers, and 导师 (dǎoshī) refers to a mentor or advisor.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 師 with similar characters like 诗 (shī, poetry) or 志 (zhì, will). For example, saying '我是一位诗' (wǒ shì yī wèi shī) incorrectly uses '诗' instead of '师'. The correct phrase would be '我是一位师' (wǒ shì yī wèi shī).

Write 師

師

Practice writing 師 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 師

Words containing this character20
律师lǜshīlawyer律師
老师lǎoshīteacher老師
师Shīteacher師
教师jiàoshīteacher教師
大师dàshīmaster大師
设计师shèjìshīdesigner設計師
牧师chaplain牧師
摄影师shèyǐngshīphotographer攝影師
师傅shīfumaster師傅
工程师gōngchéngshīengineer工程師
医师doctor醫師
厨师chúshīcook廚師
会计师accountant會計師
分析师analyst分析師
导师dǎoshītutor導師
巫师wizard巫師
师父shīfumaster師父
师生shīshēngteachers and students師生
法师one who has mastered the sutras (Buddhism)法師
师兄senior male fellow student or apprentice師兄
Exercise 1 of 4

Words with 師

What does 律师 mean?

Frequently asked questions about 師

師 is often used in compound words like 老師 (lǎoshī, teacher) or 醫師 (yīshī, doctor) to denote someone with expertise.

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