師弟

• Reading: してい
• Romaji: shitei
• Kanji breakdown: 師 (shi) — teacher, master; 弟 (tei) — younger/junior, disciple
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.teː/

Meaning

Teacher and student; master and disciple. The relationship between one who transmits knowledge or a craft and one who receives it.

A noun describing the formal bond between a master (師) and a pupil (弟子). In traditional Japanese arts — rakugo, noh, tea ceremony, martial arts, and many crafts — the 師弟 relationship involves not just technical transmission but personal formation and social hierarchy. Literary works frequently explore 師弟 bonds as a vehicle for themes of loyalty, inheritance, and the weight of tradition.

Examples

1. 師弟の絆は、技術の伝授にとどまらず人格的なつながりをも意味する。 The bond between master and disciple signifies not merely the transmission of skill but a personal connection as well.
2. 落語の世界では、師弟関係の礼儀が現代においても厳格に守られている。 In the world of rakugo, the etiquette of the master-disciple relationship is strictly observed even today.
3. 優れた師の下で優れた弟子が育つという師弟の理想は、時代を超えて語り継がれる。 The ideal of a great disciple being raised under a great master is a story told across the ages.

Usage Guide

Context: traditional arts, literature, martial arts, education

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 師 (shi, teacher/master) and 弟 (tei/dei, younger brother/junior disciple). 弟 in 師弟 is read as the second element of 弟子 (deshi, pupil), so the compound concisely names both parties: the 師 (master) and the 弟 (disciple).

Cultural Context

Era: Classical–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal