Chinese word

师傅

Pronunciation

Pinyinshī fù

Meaning

  • noundriver

Example

师傅，请把我送到火车站。shī fù qǐng bǎ wǒ sòng dào huǒ chē zhàn

Driver, please take me to the train station.

Illustration for 师傅 (driver)

More examples

很多乘客在下车前会跟师傅说谢谢。hěn duō chéng kè zài xià chē qián huì gēn shī fù shuō xiè xiè

Many passengers say thank you to the driver before getting off.

Core concept

A familiar mark of respect for someone trusted to use trained skill in a practical job.

Common phrases

  • 叫师傅jiào shī fù

    call the driver

  • 师傅，您好shī fù nín hǎo

    Hello, driver

  • 师傅开车shī fù kāi chē

    the driver drives

Similar words

司机sī jī: A person employed to drive a car, bus, or other vehicle.
先生xiān shēng: A polite title used for a teacher or a respected older man.
师父shī fù: A respectful title for a teacher who trains disciples in skills or knowledge.

Definition in Chinese

表示对提供服务或拥有专业技能的人的尊称，常作为对司机、修理工、厨师等的口头称呼。biǎo shì duì tí gōng fú wù huò yōng yǒu zhuān yè jì néng de rén de zūn chēng cháng zuò wéi duì sī jī xiū lǐ gōng chú shī děng de kǒu tóu chēng hū

Word origin

师傅 (shīfù, "master") combines 师 (shī, "teacher or master") with 傅 (fù, "tutor"), an older pairing for a teacher or master that became a spoken title for skilled workers.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, it can address an unfamiliar service worker by role rather than by name, a pattern that is more routine in Chinese than in everyday English.

Other meanings

  • craftsmannoun
  • masternoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word