A respectful term for a teacher, master, or mentor, often used in traditional arts, crafts, or as a title.
He is my calligraphy teacher.
I follow my master's teachings.
Used for founders or leaders of religious sects, often as a suffix (e.g., 教祖, 法師).
The religious leader of that sect is respected by many followers.
Suffix attached to professions or roles to indicate a specialist (e.g., 医師, 技師, 教師).
He is a famous doctor.
He is a famous fortune-teller.
brigade of 2500 men (Zhou dynasty)
Historical military unit in ancient China; rarely encountered outside historical texts.
In the Zhou dynasty army, a 'shi' referred to a unit of 2500 soldiers.
He studied painting, looking up to that painter as his mentor.
She continues making pottery with a famous potter as her teacher.
師匠 specifically names the master of a traditional art or craft under whom one apprentices, whereas 師 is a broader term for any respected teacher or mentor.
From Middle Chinese 師 (srij, “master, teacher, specialist”). The historical military sense is also derived from the same Chinese root.
engineer; technician
division (military)
officiating priest; presiding priest · religious teacher; high-ranking priest · guru; instructor
strategist; tactician; schemer
Buddhist priest; bonze · layman dressed like a priest · person (suffix)
missionary
former teacher; mentor
study under; be a pupil of; apprentice oneself to
hunter; huntsman
teacher and student; master and disciple
great teacher; high Buddhist master
clown
gardener
holy master; guru
old master; venerable teacher · old monk; aged priest
swindler; con artist; crook
prospector · speculator · adventurer; impostor; con artist
December; twelfth month of the lunar calendar
Zen master; high-ranking Zen monk
fatherly master; revered teacher
founder of a sect; patriarch