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大夫 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
大夫
dàfū
senior official (in imperial China)
HSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #3299, Medium
大夫
dàfū
doctor
HSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #3299, Medium
大夫
dàfū
physician
HSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #3299, Medium
大夫
dàifu
senior official (in imperial China)
HSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #3299, Medium
大夫
dàifu
doctor
HSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #3299, Medium
大夫
dàifu
physician
HSK 4, n, 7 strokes, rank #3299, Medium
dàfū(da4fu1)da fu
primary
T4
1senior official (in imperial China)
2doctor
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March 24, 2026
大夫dàfū(da4fu1)
大夫 (dà fū) primarily refers to a doctor or physician in modern contexts. Historically, it also denoted a senior official or noble in imperial China, illustrating its significance in both the medical and bureaucratic spheres. The term is commonly used in both formal and informal settings when discussing healthcare.
Strokes7Frequency#3299DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In traditional Chinese culture, a 大夫 was not just a medical professional but also held social status, reflecting the intertwining of health and politics. This underscores the respect granted to both medical practitioners and officials in society.
Memory tip
Imagine a big (大) doctor (夫) in a white coat who is treating patients. The character 大 (big) can remind you of the importance of a doctor, while 夫 (man) here can represent the male physician, creating a vivid picture of a medical figure.
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AI study notes for 大夫
Quick Contrast
医生 (yīshēng) vs 大夫 (dàfū): Use 医生 when specifically referring to a doctor in a modern medical context, while 大夫 can imply a historical or more formal connotation.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 大夫 with 医生 (yī shēng), which is a more general term for doctor used in modern contexts. 大夫 tends to be more formal and might be used in specific contexts, such as traditional medicine discussions. Ensure you use the correct tone when pronouncing it, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 大夫 connects with other healthcare-related vocabulary such as 医院 (yī yuàn - hospital) and 医疗 (yī liáo - medical treatment). Focus on using it in sentences that involve health care situations to strengthen your contextual understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 大夫 in casual contexts where 医生 would be more appropriate, as in saying '我去找大夫' instead of '我去找医生'. Also, some may mispronounce the tones, leading to confusion with other words.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 大夫
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How to say senior official (in imperial China) in Chinese
“senior official (in imperial China)” in Chinese is大夫dàfū
大夫 (dà fū) primarily refers to a doctor or physician in modern contexts. Historically, it also denoted a senior official or noble in imperial China, illustrating its significance in both the medical and bureaucratic spheres. The term is commonly used in both formal and informal settings when discussing healthcare.
When to use 大夫
Be careful not to confuse 大夫 with 医生 (yī shēng), which is a more general term for doctor used in modern contexts. 大夫 tends to be more formal and might be used in specific contexts, such as traditional medicine discussions. Ensure you use the correct tone when pronouncing it, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning.
大夫 or something close to it
医生 (yīshēng) vs 大夫 (dàfū): Use 医生 when specifically referring to a doctor in a modern medical context, while 大夫 can imply a historical or more formal connotation.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mistakenly use 大夫 in casual contexts where 医生 would be more appropriate, as in saying '我去找大夫' instead of '我去找医生'. Also, some may mispronounce the tones, leading to confusion with other words.
Write 大夫
大
夫
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Grammar patterns of 大夫
大夫 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 3 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.
