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March 24, 2026
老师(老師)lǎoshī(lao3shi1)
The word '老师' (lǎoshī) means 'teacher' in Mandarin. It is commonly used to refer to someone who teaches in a school or educational setting, and it conveys respect for the profession. In everyday conversation, you might use it to address your own teachers or to describe someone's role in education.
Frequency#804DifficultyEasy
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, teachers are highly respected and often seen as figures of authority not just in education but in moral guidance. The annual Teacher's Day on September 10th highlights this cultural appreciation for educators.
Memory Tip
Think of '老' (lǎo) meaning 'old' and '师' (shī) meaning 'master.' Picture an experienced, wise old master imparting knowledge to students. This image connects the components to the meaning of 'teacher' and helps you remember the pronunciation.
Meanings of 老师
lǎoshī(lao3shi1)
1teacher
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About 老师
老师Simplified
老師Traditional
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#804Frequency Rank
个Measure Word
HSK 2.0L1HSK 3.0L1ElementaryTOCFLL1HSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 老师
Podcast: 老师
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AI Study Notes for 老师
Quick Contrast
教师 (jiàoshī) - '教师' is a more formal term for 'teacher' often used in official contexts, while '老师' is more commonly used in everyday conversation.
Memory Mnemonic
Think of '老' (lǎo) meaning 'old' and '师' (shī) meaning 'master.' Picture an experienced, wise old master imparting knowledge to students. This image connects the components to the meaning of 'teacher' and helps you remember the pronunciation.
Usage Notes
'老师' is a respectful term and should be used in both formal and informal contexts when addressing or referring to teachers. Common mistakes include using it inappropriately with non-teachers or omitting the appropriate polite forms in conversation. Remember that '个' (gè) is a commonly used measure word for people.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, '老师' connects with other basic vocabulary related to school and education, such as '学生' (xuéshēng - student). Students should practice using it in simple sentences to build confidence and fluency in educational contexts.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, teachers are highly respected and often seen as figures of authority not just in education but in moral guidance. The annual Teacher's Day on September 10th highlights this cultural appreciation for educators.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to use the measure word when saying 'a teacher,' resulting in phrases like '我有老师' instead of '我有一个老师.' Additionally, using '老师' in informal contexts with friends can be overly formal.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 老师
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Grammar Patterns of 老师
老师 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Teachers were threatened with kitchen knives, physically assaulted and verbally abused..
10
我当了老师，因为我更喜欢书本和人而不是权术。
wǒ dāng le lǎo shī， ， yīn wéi wǒ gēng xǐ huān shū běn hé rén ér bù shì quán。
I became a teacher because I preferred books and people to politics.
Cultural Notes for 老师
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, teachers are highly respected and often seen as figures of authority not just in education but in moral guidance. The annual Teacher's Day on September 10th highlights this cultural appreciation for educators.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, while teachers are also respected, the level of formality and the distinction between teacher and student can be less pronounced compared to the Chinese context where hierarchical respect is emphasized.
Frequently Asked Questions about 老师
You can say '我有一个老师' (Wǒ yǒu yīgè lǎoshī) meaning 'I have a teacher.'
'老师' should be used specifically for teachers; using it for non-teachers might be seen as inappropriate.
'老师' itself is a polite form, but you can add their last name, like '王老师' (Wáng lǎoshī), to show more respect.
