先生
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
[edit] Cantonese
| simpl. and trad. | |||
| 先生 | |||
[edit] Noun
先生 (traditional and simplified, jyutping sin1 saang1)
[edit] Japanese
| Kanji in this term | |
| 先 | 生 |
[edit] Noun
先生 (hiragana せんせい, romaji sensei)
- one who was born earlier; an elder
- one who excels at a subject; a scholar
- one who teaches; a teacher or professor
[edit] Usage notes
This is a term of respect, often reserved only for speaking about others, and considered somewhat impolite (immodest) to use when referring to oneself. Instead, the term 教師 (きょうし, kyoushi, “teacher”) is considered more modest in referring to oneself.
[edit] Derived terms
- 大先生 (ōsensei)
[edit] Suffix
先生 (hiragana せんせい, romaji -sensei)
- a title used after the name of teachers, doctors, lawyers, or certain other professionals
[edit] 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, kyoushi) – a teacher
- 大学の教師 – a professor
- 先輩 (せんぱい, senpai, “senior colleague, senior student”)
[edit] Mandarin
| simpl. and trad. | |||
| 先生 | |||
[edit] Etymology
From 先 (xiān, Old Chinese *sɯːn(s), "before, ahead") and 生 (shēng, OC *shleːŋ, *sreŋs, "to be born"), i.e. "that who was born earlier". Attested in Shijing ("first child"), Yili ("elder brother"), Classic of Rites ("teacher"), Mengzi ("a knowledgeable elder").
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
先生 (traditional and simplified, Pinyin xiānsheng)
- (Beginning Mandarin) mister, sir
- 王先生来了 (Wáng xiānsheng láile) IPA: /ˈu̯ɑŋ˧˥ɕi̯ɛn˥ʂɤŋ˨ˈlaɪ̯˧˥lə˧/ (Mr Wang came.)
- husband (polite)
- (dated) Doctor; Dr
[edit] References
- 2000, Shao, Jingmin (ed.), 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:
[edit] Min Nan
| simpl. and trad. | |||
| 先生 | |||
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
Categories:
- Cantonese nouns in traditional script
- Cantonese nouns in simplified script
- Cantonese nouns
- Chinese hanzi
- Cantonese dated terms
- Japanese terms written with two Han script characters
- Japanese terms spelled with 先
- Japanese terms spelled with 生
- Japanese nouns
- Japanese suffixes
- ja:Education
- Mandarin nouns in simplified script
- Mandarin nouns in traditional script
- Mandarin nouns
- cmn:Beginning Mandarin
- cmn:Beginning Mandarin in traditional script
- cmn:Beginning Mandarin in simplified script
- Mandarin dated terms
- Mandarin entries with audio links
- Min Nan nouns in simplified script
- Min Nan nouns in traditional script
- Min Nan nouns