师从 (shī cōng) — to study under (a teacher)

Definition

A formal written verb meaning to study or train under a specific master or mentor, used for serious disciplines like art, medicine, or scholarship. Differs from plain 学习 in that it names the teacher and implies a long apprenticeship relationship.

verb
to study under (a teacher)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 师从。
    Tā dà xué bì yè hòu shī cōng yí wèi zhù míng jiào shòu xué xí lì shǐ.
    After graduating from university, he studied history under a famous professor.
  • 师从，。
    Zhè wèi huà jiā nián qīng shí shī cōng qí bái shí, xué dào le hěn duō jì qiǎo.
    This painter studied under Qi Baishi when he was young and learned many techniques.
  • 师从，。
    Tā shī cōng yí wèi lǎo zhōng yī, xiàn zài zì jǐ yě chéng le hǎo yī shēng.
    She studied under an old Chinese medicine doctor, and now she herself has become a good doctor.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

师shītake as teacher
从cóngfollow

师 and 从 both describe actions: taking someone as a teacher and following them.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 師; 师 is its simplified writing.

  • 𠂤𠂤𠂤
  • 帀帀zā

The traditional form 師 combines 𠂤 and 帀; the simplified 师 is not the form explained here.

Open 师 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 從; 从 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
辵辵chuòwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
从
从cóng從cóng
Same sound today

The traditional form 從 pairs 辵 (walk) with 从, which gives the sound; the character was originally written 从.

Open 从 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.