医師

• Reading: いし
• Romaji: ishi
• Kanji breakdown: 医 (i) — medicine, healing; 師 (shi) — master, teacher
• Pronunciation: /i.ɕi/

Meaning

Doctor; physician. A licensed medical professional who diagnoses and treats illness.

A formal noun for a medical doctor. More formal and official than 医者 (isha), which is the everyday word for doctor. 医師 is used in legal documents, medical regulations, news reports, and formal contexts. The term 医師免許 (medical licence) uses this form. In casual conversation, 医者 or お医者さん are preferred.

Examples

1. 医師の指示に従って薬を飲んでください。 Please take your medication according to the doctor's instructions.
2. 彼女は将来医師になりたいと思っている。 She wants to become a doctor in the future.
3. 担当の医師に相談してみましょう。 Let's consult with the doctor in charge.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, legal documents, news

Tone: professional

Origin & History

Composed of 医 (medicine, healing) and 師 (master, teacher). Together they describe a master of medicine — one who has been trained and authorised to heal.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Professional