Chinese word

师长

Pronunciation

Pinyinshī zhǎng

Meaning

noundivision commander

Example

我们的师长明天要来视察。wǒ men de shī zhǎng míng tiān yào lái shì chá

Our division commander will come to inspect tomorrow.

Illustration for 师长 (division commander)

More examples

今天上午，士兵们向师长汇报了训练情况。jīn tiān shàng wǔ shì bīng men xiàng shī zhǎng huì bào le xùn liàn qíng kuàng

This morning, the soldiers reported on their training to the division commander.

Core concept

A senior leader whose authority comes from commanding a group or guiding people in learning.

Common phrases

向师长汇报xiàng shī zhǎng huì bào
report to the division commander
师长下达命令shī zhǎng xià dá mìng lìng
division commander giving orders
师长视察部队shī zhǎng shì chá bù duì
division commander inspecting troops

Similar words

军长jūn zhǎng: A senior military officer who commands an army.
旅长lǘ zhǎng: A military commander who leads a brigade-sized unit.
团长tuán zhǎng: A military commander who leads a regiment-sized unit.

Definition in Chinese

军队中负责一个“师”这一编制单位的指挥官。jūn duì zhōng fù zé yí gè shī zhè yì biān zhì dān wèi de zhǐ huī guān

Word origin

师 (shī, "division; teacher") + 长 (zhǎng, "head") names the head of a military division and also reflects the traditional view of a teacher as a senior guide.

Usage tips

The military sense is especially likely in reports, official speech, or scenes involving inspections, while the educational sense sounds respectful rather than like an ordinary everyday label.

Other meanings

teachernoun

Related words

副师长fù shī zhǎngdeputy division commandernoun