How to Say Teacher in Chinese
老师
lǎoshī
老师 (lǎoshī) is the everyday Mandarin word for teacher.
Pronunciation and tones
Lǎo has a third tone, usually low before another syllable. Shī has a high, level first tone.
Two everyday examples
她是中文老师。
Tā shì Zhōngwén lǎoshī.
She is a Chinese-language teacher.
老师，谢谢您。
Lǎoshī, xièxie nín.
Thank you, teacher.
Usage and common mistakes
Put the surname first
王老师 (Wáng lǎoshī) means Teacher Wang. A surname comes before 老师 when used as a title.
Treat 老师 as one word
Although 老 can mean old, 老师 does not mean that the teacher is elderly. It is a respectful everyday title.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say teacher in Chinese?
The everyday word is 老师 (lǎoshī), with a third tone followed by a first tone.
How do you greet a teacher?
Say 老师好 (lǎoshī hǎo), meaning hello, teacher.
What is the difference between 老师 and 教师?
老师 (lǎoshī) is common in conversation and direct address. 教师 (jiàoshī) is a more formal occupational term.