老师傅 (lǎo shī fù) — senior master craftsman; experienced worker (respectful term)

Definition

Respectful term for a highly experienced, senior craftsperson — literally 'old master', used to address skilled workers (mechanics, cooks, carpenters) with deference, not just any older worker.

noun
senior master craftsmanexperienced worker (respectful term)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 老师傅，。
    Zhè wèi lǎo shī fù xiū chē xiū le sān shí nián, jì shù tè bié hǎo.
    This senior master has been repairing cars for thirty years — his skill is exceptional.
  • 老师傅，？
    lǎo shī fù, Nín néng bāng wǒ kàn kàn zhè ge jī qì nǎ lǐ huài le ma?
    Master worker, could you take a look at this machine and see where it's broken?
  • 老师傅。
    Chǎng lǐ nà wèi lǎo shī fù dài le hǎo jǐ gè tú dì.
    That senior master at the factory has trained several apprentices.

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.

老lǎoold; experienced
师傅master craftsman
师shīteacher; master傅fùmaster
联合Side by side

In 老师傅, 老 means old or experienced and 师傅 means master craftsman, together naming a senior skilled worker.

Characters in this word

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

The shape 老 combines 人 (man), 毛 (hair), and 匕 (cane), showing a man with long hair leaning on a cane.

Open 老 →

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
尃
尃fū傅fù
Same sound today

傅 is built from 亻, a standing person, beside 尃, which supplies the sound fū.

Open 傅 →

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