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师兄 (shī xiōng) — senior male fellow apprentice (in a master-disciple or mentor-mentee hierarchy); master's (older) son (when the master has a biological son older than the speaker)

Definition

A form of address for a senior male in a shared master–disciple or mentor–mentee lineage (e.g. a lab, kung-fu school, or academic group). Use it like 'senior fellow' or 'senior colleague' — as both a noun and a respectful term of address.

noun
senior male fellow apprentice (in a master-disciple or mentor-mentee hierarchy)master's (older) son (when the master has a biological son older than the speaker)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 师兄，。
    Wǒ de shī xiōng wǔ gōng hěn gāo, jiào le wǒ hěn duō gōng fu.
    My senior fellow apprentice has very high martial arts skill and taught me a lot of kung fu.
  • 师兄，。
    Zhè wèi shī xiōng shì wǒ men shí yàn shì de qián bèi, nǐ yào duō xiàng tā xué xí.
    This senior fellow is a senior in our lab; you should learn from him.
  • 师兄，！
    shī xiōng, Nín xiān qǐng!
    Senior fellow, please go first!

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

师shīmaster
兄xiōngolder brother

师 names the master and 兄 names an older brother, together denoting a senior fellow apprentice.

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 →

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

The shape 兄 puts 口, a mouth, above 儿 to express the idea of giving orders; this fits the old meaning of an elder brother.

Open 兄 →
Appears in
Identity & TitlesSchool & Education

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