先生

• 拼音: xiān sheng
• 汉字拆解: 先 = first/before; 生 = life/born — 'one born before,' hence a senior or gentleman

含义

Mr.; sir; husband; gentleman. A respectful form of address for men.

The most common polite title for addressing men, equivalent to 'Mr.' in English. Also used by women to refer to their husbands. Placed after a surname: 王先生 (Mr. Wang). In service settings, staff may address male customers as 先生.

例句

1. 王先生，您好！
2. 这位先生想买这本书。
3. 我先生是老师。

用法指南

语境: social, formal

语气: respectful

正确说法

• 李先生，请坐。(Mr. Li, please have a seat.)
• 我先生在公司上班。(My husband works at a company.)

错误说法

• 先生王，你好。(Wrong order — the surname comes first: 王先生; not 先生王)

起源与历史

Literally means 'born first/before,' originally referring to someone older or senior. Over time it became a respectful title for men, similar to the evolution of 'sir' in English.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal