師 means “teacher, master, expert”

し · shi

Also: model

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

いくさ

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

シ

JLPT N3 · Taught in grade 5 · 10 strokes

The story

Picture a general at the head of his troops: 師 first meant an army, a sense kept in 師団, a military division. Now it crowns the masters of a skill: 教師 a teacher, 医師 a doctor, 漁師 a fisherman, and 師匠, the master an apprentice serves.

Used in 教師 (kyoushi, teacher), 医師 (ishi, doctor), and 看護師 (kangoshi, nurse)

More from People Around You

• 彼 he
• 婦 woman
• 徒 pupil
• 君 you
• 娘 daughter
• 皆 everyone
• 坊 boy
• 達 plural (people)
• 他 other
• 客 guest

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.