HSK 3.0 · LEVEL 1
先生
Mister (Mr.), Gentleman, or Teacher.
Free Chinese vocabulary flashcard · HSK 1
Why does 先生 look like this?
"先" (xiān) means 'first' or 'ahead', and "生" (shēng) means 'to be born' or 'life'. Literally, it describes someone "born before" another, implying they have more experience and wisdom. In modern usage, it's a respectful way to address a man.