noun
A person who serves as an ideal model or teacher, especially in moral or professional conduct. Somewhat formal and literary; not an everyday word for 'teacher'.
彼は多くの若者にとって人生の師表である。
He is a model for life to many young people.
師表となるような人物を目指したい。
I want to become a person who can serve as a paragon.
Composed of 師 (teacher, master) and 表 (surface, example). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound conveys the idea of a teacher who serves as a visible model.