老师

• Pinyin: lǎo shī
• Hanzi breakdown: 老 (venerable) + 师 (master, expert) — a venerable master, a teacher

Meaning

Teacher. The standard respectful title for a teacher or instructor.

Used as both a title and a form of address. In Chinese culture, 老师 carries deep respect. Can also be used as a polite title for any knowledgeable person, not just school teachers. Address form: 王老师 (Teacher Wang).

Examples

1. 老师好！ Hello, teacher!
2. 我们的老师很好。 Our teacher is very good.
3. 王老师教我们数学。 Teacher Wang teaches us maths.

Usage Guide

Context: school, education, everyday

Tone: respectful

Do Say

• 老师好！(Hello, teacher!)
• 谢谢老师！(Thank you, teacher!)

Don't Say

• 老师，你错了。(Directly saying 'you're wrong' to a teacher sounds blunt — soften with 老师，是不是这样...)

Origin & History

Compound of 老 (venerable, experienced) and 师 (master, expert). Reflects the deep cultural respect for teachers in Chinese society — someone venerable and masterful.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal