# 도사
## Korean
### Etymology 1

Sino-Korean word from 道士, from 道 (“the Way, Daoism”) + 士 (“knight, gentleman”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ˈto̞(ː)sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도(ː)사]
** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 道士)
* Taoist priest
* (figuratively) wiz (exceptionally clever or gifted person)
    Synonym: 달인(達人) (darin)
* person, often not affiliated with a specific religion, who meditates and practices East Asian spiritual exercises as to refine their inner self
    Synonym: (more common) 도인(道人) (doin)
* (honorific) male shaman; male priest of Korean shamanism, the indigenous religion of the country
    Synonyms: 무속인(巫俗人) (musogin), 법사(法師) (beopsa); see also Thesaurus:무속인

##### Usage notes

* Taoism is not practiced in Korea, so the original sense of "Taoist priest" usually appears in Chinese contexts. The other senses could be considered adaptations of the word to a Korean context.

##### Related terms

* 도를 닦다 (doreul dakda, “to practice meditation and spiritual exercise”)
* 도가 트이다 (doga teu'ida, “to become adept or gifted at something”)

### Etymology 2

Sino-Korean word from 導師, from 導 (“guidance”) + 師 (“teacher”). The Yanbian sense is a semantic loan from Mandarin 導師／导师 (dǎoshī).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ˈto̞(ː)sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도(ː)사]
** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 導師)
* (Yanbian) academic advisor, thesis supervisor
    Synonym: 지도교수(指導敎授) (jidogyosu)
* (Buddhism) one who guides others to the Buddhist path; an honorific title for Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and monks
* (shamanism) An honorific title for various deities in Korean folk religion

### Etymology 3

Sino-Korean word from 道 (“province”) + 使 (“official”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [ˈto̞(ː)sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도(ː)사]
** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 道使)
* (historical) In the Three Kingdoms of Korea, a regional governor in charge of individual towns and fortifications
    Synonyms: 처려근지(處閭近支) (cheoryeogeunji), 성주(城主) (seongju)

### Etymology 4

Sino-Korean word from 都 (“capital”) + 事 (“affair”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [to̞sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도사]

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 都事)
* (historical) a type of secretary in the Korean government that existed from 1275 to 1882, usually numbering between twenty and thirty

### Etymology 5

Sino-Korean word from 島 (“island”) + 司 (“official”).

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [to̞sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도사]

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 島司)
* (historical) In Korea under Japanese rule (1910–1945), a colonial administrator in charge of large islands
    제주 도사(濟州 島司) ― Jeju dosa ― governor of Jeju Island

### Etymology 6

Sino-Korean word from 徒死, from 徒 (“futile”) + 死 (“death”)

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [to̞sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도사]

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 徒死)
* (rare, formal) futile death, death in vain
    Synonym: (colloquial) 개죽음 (gaejugeum)

##### Derived terms

* 도사(徒死)하다 (dosahada, “to die in vain”)

### Etymology 7

Sino-Korean word from 禱 (“pray”) + 祀 (“worship”)

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [to̞sʰa̠]
* Phonetic hangul: [도사]

#### Noun

도사 • (dosa) (hanja 禱祀)
* (archaic) a ritual worshipping a Buddha or deity

##### Derived terms

* 도사(禱祀)하다 (dosahada, “to perform a ritual”)