老师 (lǎoshī) — teacher
HSK 1 | noun | teacher, instructor
老师 (lǎoshī)
A noun meaning teacher. It is also used as a respectful form of address, spoken directly to the teacher just as you might say "Teacher" in English. The word combines 老 (old, experienced) and 师 (master, teacher).
Meanings
- [noun] Teacher, instructor, educator.
- [address form] Used to address a teacher directly (e.g., 王老师, Teacher Wang).
Example Sentences
我的汉语老师是中国人。 Wǒ de Hànyǔ lǎoshī shì Zhōngguó rén. My Chinese teacher is Chinese.
老师，我有一个问题。 Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu yīgè wèntí. Teacher, I have a question.
她想以后当一名老师。 Tā xiǎng yǐhòu dāng yī míng lǎoshī. She wants to become a teacher in the future.
王老师对学生非常好。 Wáng lǎoshī duì xuésheng fēicháng hǎo. Teacher Wang treats students very well.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 汉语老师 (Hànyǔ lǎoshī) | Chinese language teacher |
| 班主任 (bānzhǔrèn) | homeroom teacher |
| 好老师 (hǎo lǎoshī) | good teacher |
| 老师好 (lǎoshī hǎo) | greeting: "Hello, Teacher" |
| 王老师 (Wáng lǎoshī) | Teacher Wang (surname + title) |
Memory Hook
老 means old and experienced; 师 means master. A teacher is an experienced master who passes knowledge on. In Chinese culture, teachers are addressed with this respectful title directly by name.