先生

Cantonese

simpl. and trad.
先生

Noun

先生 (traditional and simplified, jyutping sin1 saang1)

1. mister, sir
2. husband (polite)
3. (dated) Doctor; Dr
4. teacher

---

Japanese

Kanji in this term
先	生

Etymology

From Sinitic 先生.

Pronunciation

• IPA: /senseː/

Noun

先生 (hiragana せんせい, romaji sensei)

1. one who was born earlier; an elder
2. one who excels at a subject; a scholar
3. one who teaches; a teacher or professor

Usage notes

This is a term of respect, reserved only for speaking about others, and considered somewhat impolite (immodest) to use when referring to oneself. Instead, the term 教師 (kyōshi, "teacher") is considered more socially appropriate when referring to oneself.

Derived terms

• 大先生 (だいせんせい, daisensei): great teacher, high authority

Suffix

先生 (hiragana せんせい, romaji -sensei)

1. a title used after the name of teachers, doctors, lawyers, or certain other professionals

See also

• 師匠 (ししょう, shishō): a master, a teacher
• 医師 (いし, ishi): a medical doctor
• 教師 (きょうし, kyōshi): a teacher
• 教授 (きょうじゅ, kyōju): a professor
• 弁護士 (べんごし, bengoshi): an attorney, a lawyer

---

Mandarin

simpl. and trad.
先生

Etymology

From 先 (xiān, Old Chinese *sɯːn(s), "before, ahead") and 生 (shēng, OC *shleːŋ, *sreŋs, "to be born"), i.e. "one who was born earlier". Attested in Shijing ("first child"), Yili ("elder brother"), Classic of Rites ("teacher"), Mengzi ("a knowledgeable elder").

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɕi̯ɛn˥ʂɤŋ˨/

• audio

  (file)

Noun

先生 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin xiānsheng or xiānshēng)

1. (Beginning Mandarin) mister, sir

   王先生来了 (Wáng xiānsheng láile) IPA: /ˈu̯ɑŋ˧˥ɕi̯ɛn˥ʂɤŋ˨ˈlaɪ̯˧˥lə˧/ (Mr Wang came.)

2. husband (polite)
3. (dated) Doctor; Dr
   • 1918: Lu Xun, A Madman's Diary

     大哥說：「今天請何先生來，給你診一診。」

     My elder brother said, "Today, I've invited Dr. He to come and give you a check up."

References

• 2000, Jingmin (ed.) Shao, HSK Dictionary (HSK汉语水平考试词典) (in Mandarin/English), Shanghai: Huadong Teachers College Publishers, ISBN 7561720785:
• 2007, Hanyu Da Cidian 3.0 (in Mandarin), Hong Kong: Commercial Press, ISBN 9789620702778:

---

Min Nan

simpl. and trad.
先生

Pronunciation

• (Quanzhou, Xiamen, Taipei) IPA: [ sɪɛn˧˧ɕĩ˥˥ ]
• (Zhangzhou:) IPA: [ ɕɪn˧˧sẽ˥˥ ]

Noun

先生 (traditional and simplified, POJ sian-siⁿ or sin-seⁿ or sian-seⁿ)

1. Mr.
2. gentleman; sir
3. teacher