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March 24, 2026
大夫dàfū(da4fu1)
大夫 (dà fū) primarily refers to a doctor or physician in modern contexts. Historically, it also denoted a senior official or noble in imperial China, illustrating its significance in both the medical and bureaucratic spheres. The term is commonly used in both formal and informal settings when discussing healthcare.
Frequency#3299DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, a 大夫 was not just a medical professional but also held social status, reflecting the intertwining of health and politics. This underscores the respect granted to both medical practitioners and officials in society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a big (大) doctor (夫) in a white coat who is treating patients. The character 大 (big) can remind you of the importance of a doctor, while 夫 (man) here can represent the male physician, creating a vivid picture of a medical figure.
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AI Study Notes for 大夫
Quick Contrast
医生 (yīshēng) vs 大夫 (dàfū): Use 医生 when specifically referring to a doctor in a modern medical context, while 大夫 can imply a historical or more formal connotation.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a big (大) doctor (夫) in a white coat who is treating patients. The character 大 (big) can remind you of the importance of a doctor, while 夫 (man) here can represent the male physician, creating a vivid picture of a medical figure.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 大夫 with 医生 (yī shēng), which is a more general term for doctor used in modern contexts. 大夫 tends to be more formal and might be used in specific contexts, such as traditional medicine discussions. Ensure you use the correct tone when pronouncing it, as mispronouncing the tones can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 大夫 connects with other healthcare-related vocabulary such as 医院 (yī yuàn - hospital) and 医疗 (yī liáo - medical treatment). Focus on using it in sentences that involve health care situations to strengthen your contextual understanding.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, a 大夫 was not just a medical professional but also held social status, reflecting the intertwining of health and politics. This underscores the respect granted to both medical practitioners and officials in society.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mistakenly use 大夫 in casual contexts where 医生 would be more appropriate, as in saying '我去找大夫' instead of '我去找医生'. Also, some may mispronounce the tones, leading to confusion with other words.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 大夫
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Grammar Patterns of 大夫
大夫 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 3 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.
Old Dr. Fontaine was convalescing slowly from an amputated arm.
8
“ 完全正确, ” 他兴冲冲地打断我的话说, “ 完全正确.利维塞大夫是位绅士,又是治安官.
“ “ wán quán zhèng,” què , ” tā xīng chōng chōng dì dǎ duàn wǒ de,“ huà shuō , “ wán. quán zhèng què . lì wéi sāi dà fū, shì wèi shēn shì ,.
'Perfectly right,'he interrupted, very cheerily,'perfectly right - a gentleman and a magistrate.
9
大夫摸了摸我的脉,又瞧了瞧我的嗓子.
dà fū mō le mō wǒ de mài, , yòu qiáo le qiáo wǒ de sǎng.
The doctor felt my pulse and looked down my throat.
10
“ 那你就不应当喝酒嘛. ” 希维特大夫堵她的嘴说.
“ “ nà nǐ jiù bù yīng dāng hē jiǔ.” má . ” xī wéi tè dà fū dǔ tā de.
" Then you ought to leave it alone , " countered Doctor Civet.
Cultural Notes for 大夫
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, a 大夫 was not just a medical professional but also held social status, reflecting the intertwining of health and politics. This underscores the respect granted to both medical practitioners and officials in society.
Frequently Asked Questions about 大夫
Yes, 大夫 is still used to refer to doctors, but 医生 is more commonly used in contemporary conversations.
Yes, historically it referred to a senior official, but in modern usage, it primarily means physician.
大夫 is more formal and can imply respect or a historical context, while 医生 is the standard term for doctor today.
