Correct
老师 vs 先生
/ lǎoshī vs xiānsheng /
Strokes
Definition
Both 老师 and 先生 can mean "teacher", but they differ in formality, usage, and regional preference.
1. 老师 (lǎoshī) – "Teacher" (Standard, Modern, Respectful)
Meaning:
"Teacher" (general term for educators, instructors, mentors).
Usage:
- Most common in modern Mandarin (used in schools, universities, etc.).
- Gender-neutral (can refer to male or female teachers).
- Used for teachers, professors, trainers, and even mentors in non-academic fields (e.g., martial arts, music).
- Polite and respectful, but not overly formal.
Examples:
- 张老师是我的数学老师。 (Teacher Zhang is my math teacher.)
- 李老师教我们中文。 (Teacher Li teaches us Chinese.)
2. 先生 (xiānshēng) – "Teacher" (Traditional, Formal, or "Mr.")
Meaning:
- "Teacher" (old-fashioned, traditional usage, now rare in Mainland China).
- "Mr." (modern usage as a polite title for men).
Usage:
- Traditional meaning (teacher):
- Used in classical or historical contexts (e.g., Confucius is called 孔子先生).
- Still used in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and some Chinese communities overseas to mean "teacher."
- Modern meaning (Mr.):
- Used as a polite title for men (e.g., 王先生 = Mr. Wang).
- Not used for women (use 女士 (nǚshì) or 小姐 (xiǎojiě) instead).
Examples:
- (Traditional) 他是我的钢琴先生。 (He is my piano teacher.) → Rare in Mainland China.
- (Modern) 这位是李先生。 (This is Mr. Li.)
Key Differences
| Word | Meaning | Usage Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 老师 (lǎoshī) | "Teacher" (modern, general) | Schools, universities, mentors | 王老师很严格。 (Teacher Wang is strict.) |
| 先生 (xiānshēng) | "Teacher" (traditional/regional) | Classical/historical contexts, Taiwan/HK | 孔子先生 (Confucius, the teacher) |
| 先生 (xiānshēng) | "Mr." (modern, polite title) | Formal address for men | 张先生 (Mr. Zhang) |
When to Use Which?
- Use 老师 for teachers in modern, everyday Mandarin (Mainland China).
- Use 先生 for:
- "Mr." (modern polite title for men).
- "Teacher" only in traditional or regional contexts (Taiwan, Hong Kong, classical Chinese).
Now you won’t accidentally call your modern teacher 先生 in Mainland China! 😊
Example
老师 and 先生 both mean"teacher'". 老师 is more common. From kindergarten to university, the teachers can all be addressed as 老师 (including address face to face). 先生 is a bit special, only used in universities and colleges; it can also be an address in sb.'s fa
1) 老师 is also used to address older and experienced intellectuals.
2) 先生 is used to address a man, usually white-collar professional adult.
2) 先生 is used to address a man, usually white-collar professional adult.
1
Zhè
这
shì
是
lǎoshī
老师
jīntiān
今天
liú
留
de
的
zuòyè
作业
。
This is today's homework.
2
Wáng
王
lǎoshī
老师
jiǎng
讲
de
的
wénxuéshǐ
文学史
hěn
很
shòu
受
xuésheng
学生
men
们
de
的
huānyíng
欢迎
。
The literature history course given by Mr.Wang is popular.
3
Lǐ
李
lǎoshī
老师
shì
是
xìjùjiè
戏剧界
de
的
qiánbèi
前辈
。
Mr.Li is the father of theatri- cal circles.
4
Xiānsheng
先生
,
nín
您
xiǎng
想
mǎi
买
shénme
什么
?
Sir, what do you want to buy?
5
Zhè
这
wèi
位
lǐxiānsheng
李先生
zài
在
yī
一
jiā
家
màoyì
贸易
gōngsī
公司
gōngzuò
工作
。
This Mr. Li works for a trading company.
先生 can also be the address of someone else's husband or the address of one's own husband.
6
Nǐ
你
xiānsheng
先生
zài
在
nǎr
哪儿
gōngzuò
工作
?
Where does your husband work?
7
Wǒ
我
xiānsheng
先生
xìng
姓
wáng
王
。
My husband's surname is Wang.
Mistake
❌ Wrong (Mainland China): 我的中文先生是美国人。 (My Chinese teacher is American.) → Use 老师 instead.
✅ Correct: 我的中文老师是美国人。
❌ Wrong (for women): 这是李先生。 (This is Mr. Li.) → If referring to a woman, use 女士 (nǚshì) or 小姐 (xiǎojiě).
✅ Correct: 这是李女士。 (This is Ms. Li.)