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先生 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
先生
xiānsheng
Mister (Mr.)
HSK 1, n, 11 strokes, rank #93, Easy
先生
xiānsheng
teacher
HSK 1, n, 11 strokes, rank #93, Easy
先生
xiānsheng
husband
HSK 1, n, 11 strokes, rank #93, Easy
先生
xiānsheng
doctor (dialect)
HSK 1, n, 11 strokes, rank #93, Easy
xiānsheng(Xian1sheng5)xian sheng T1
1Mister (Mr.)
2teacher
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March 24, 2026
先生xiānsheng(Xian1sheng5)
先生 (xiān sheng) is a respectful term used to address a man, equivalent to 'Mr.' in English. It can also refer to a teacher or a husband, showcasing its versatile usage in both formal and informal contexts. Additionally, in some dialects, it can imply a doctor, reflecting a level of respect associated with the profession.
Strokes11Frequency#93DifficultyEasy
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, titles like 先生 reflect the deep respect for education and social hierarchy. It is common to address teachers and older men with this term, signifying their status and experience in society.
Memory tip
Think of 先 (xiān) as 'first' and 生 (shēng) as 'to be born' or 'life.' You could imagine a 'first-born' son who becomes a respected teacher, husband, or even a doctor in the community. This character can be a symbol of respect and authority.
Meanings of 先生
xiānsheng(Xian1sheng5)
1Mister (Mr.)
2teacher
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 先生
先生Simplified
11Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#93Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 先生
Podcast: 先生
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AI study notes for 先生
Quick Contrast
老师 (lǎoshī) — use 先生 (xiānsheng) when addressing a man respectfully, while 老师 (lǎoshī) specifically refers to a teacher.
Usage Notes
When using 先生, it's important to be aware of the context to avoid misunderstandings; for instance, addressing someone as 先生 in a formal setting is appropriate, but it may seem overly formal in casual situations. Avoid confusing it with 夫 (fū), which strictly means 'husband.'
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, 先生 connects to other basic terms for addressing people. Students should focus on its pronunciation and contexts to ensure they can use it correctly in social interactions.
Common Mistakes
Learners may mistakenly use 先生 to refer to a woman, which is incorrect; instead, use 女士 (nǚ shì). Another common error is using it in overly casual contexts where a simpler form of address would suffice.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 先生
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先生 (xiān sheng) is a respectful term used to address a man, equivalent to 'Mr.' in English. It can also refer to a teacher or a husband, showcasing its versatile usage in both formal and informal contexts. Additionally, in some dialects, it can imply a doctor, reflecting a level of respect associated with the profession.
When to use 先生
When using 先生, it's important to be aware of the context to avoid misunderstandings; for instance, addressing someone as 先生 in a formal setting is appropriate, but it may seem overly formal in casual situations. Avoid confusing it with 夫 (fū), which strictly means 'husband.'
先生 or something close to it
老师 (lǎoshī) — use 先生 (xiānsheng) when addressing a man respectfully, while 老师 (lǎoshī) specifically refers to a teacher.
What learners get wrong
Learners may mistakenly use 先生 to refer to a woman, which is incorrect; instead, use 女士 (nǚ shì). Another common error is using it in overly casual contexts where a simpler form of address would suffice.
Write 先生
先
生
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Grammar patterns of 先生
先生 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
