Chinese word

弟子

Pronunciation

Pinyindì zǐ

Meaning

  • noundisciple

Example

他是我的弟子。tā shì wǒ de dì zǐ

He is my disciple.

Illustration for 弟子 (disciple)

More examples

这位画家的门下弟子很多，各有自己的风格。zhè wèi huà jiā de mén xià dì zǐ hěn duō gè yǒu zì jǐ de fēng gé

This painter has many disciples, each with their own style.

Core concept

A learner who enters a teacher's circle and receives knowledge or a craft through a personal teaching relationship.

Common phrases

  • 门下弟子mén xià dì zǐ

    disciple under one's tutelage

  • 培养弟子péi yǎng dì zǐ

    train disciples

Similar words

徒弟tú dì: A person learning a craft or line of work from a master through hands-on instruction.
学徒xué tú: A person receiving specialized study or training under a teacher or mentor.
学生xué shēng: A person who goes to school to receive lessons and gain an education.

Definition in Chinese

指被师傅收为门下、学习一门手艺或学问的人，带有师徒或传承关系的意味。zhǐ bèi shī fù shōu wèi mén xià xué xí yì mén shǒu yì huò xué wèn de rén dài yǒu shī tú huò chuán chéng guān xì de yì wèi

Word origin

弟子 (dìzǐ, "disciple") combines 弟 (dì, "junior or younger brother") with 子 (zǐ, "person or child"), presenting the learner as a junior member of a teacher's line.

Usage tips

  • The word is especially useful in conversations about traditional arts, martial arts, and specialist training, where the teacher-student bond matters as much as the subject being learned.

Other meanings

  • studentnoun
  • apprenticenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word