Meaning of 师父
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- used for 師傅|师傅 (in Taiwan)
- master
- qualified worker
How to use 师父
In mainland China, 师父 is used for a master who passes down a skill or tradition, such as a kung fu teacher or a Buddhist monk. In Taiwan, it is also used where the mainland would say 师傅 for a skilled worker. Example: 他跟师父学了十年功夫。(Tā gēn shīfu xué le shí nián gōngfu.) He studied kung fu with his master for ten years.
师父 joins 师 (shī), teacher, as in 老师 (lǎoshī), with 父 (fù), father, as in 父亲 (fùqīn). A 师父 is a teacher you respect almost like a father.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 师父 and 师傅, which sound the same (shīfu). On the mainland, a taxi driver or repairman is usually called 师傅, and 师父 is kept for a personal master or a monk.
师父 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
师 shī · teacher · 6 strokes
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- 2
- 3
- 4
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- 6
父 fù · father · 4 strokes
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- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 师父.
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher |
| 教师 | jiàoshī | teacher |
| 父亲 | fùqīn | father; also pr. [fu4 qin5] |
| 父母 | fùmǔ | father and mother; parents |
| 工程师 | gōngchéngshī | engineer |
| 律师 | lǜshī | lawyer |
| 师傅 | shīfu | master; qualified worker |
| 摄影师 | shèyǐngshī | photographer; cinematographer; cameraman |
| 大师 | dàshī | great master; master |
| 厨师 | chúshī | cook; chef |
| 祖父 | zǔfù | father's father; paternal grandfather |
| 设计师 | shèjìshī | designer; architect |
Questions about 师父
What does 师父 mean?
师父 (shīfu) means "used for 師傅|师傅 (in Taiwan); master" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 师父?
师父 is made of 2 characters: 师 (6 strokes), 父 (4 strokes). That is 10 strokes in total.
Is 师父 an HSK word?
Yes. 师父 is on the HSK 6 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 师父 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 师父 is written 師父.
Is the fu in 师父 pronounced with a neutral tone?
Yes. In everyday speech 师父 is said shīfu, with 父 in the neutral tone. On its own, 父 is fourth tone (fù).
How do you address a Buddhist monk or nun in Chinese?
A polite and common way is to call them 师父 (shīfu). You can also use it with their name, for example 法师 (fǎshī) for a respected monk, but 师父 is the everyday term of address.