# 先生
## Chinese

* 先生 (搞清楚) (Cantonese)
* 先生 (Written Standard Chinese)

### Etymology

The specific pronunciation of Taiwanese Hokkien 先生 (siăn-sé) is from Japanese 先生(せんせい) (sensei) as evidenced by its pitch accent pronunciation. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

### Pronunciation

* Mandarin
    (Standard)
       (Pinyin): xiānshēng
       (Zhuyin): ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ
    (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): xian$^1$ sen$^1$
    (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): щянсын (xi͡ansɨn, I-I)
* Cantonese (Jyutping): sin$^1$ saang$^1$
* Gan (Wiktionary): xien$^1$ sen
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): sîn-sâng
    (Hailu, HRS): sin$^ˋ$ sang$^ˋ$
    (Meixian, Guangdong): xin$^1$ sang$^1$
* Jin (Wiktionary): xie$^1$ seng$^1$
* Eastern Min (BUC): sĭng-săng
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): seng$^1$ sa$^1$ / seng$^1$ saⁿ$^1$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): sian-siⁿ / sin-seⁿ / sian-seⁿ / sian-seng / sen-siⁿ / siăn-sé
    (Teochew, Peng'im): sing$^1$ sên$^1$ / sêng$^1$ sên$^1$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^1$shi-san$_1$
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: xiānshēng → xiānsheng (toneless final syllable variant)
*** Zhuyin: ㄒㄧㄢ ㄕㄥ → ㄒㄧㄢ ˙ㄕㄥ (toneless final syllable variant)
*** Tongyong Pinyin: sianshe̊ng
*** Wade–Giles: hsien$^1$-shêng$^5$
*** Yale: syān-sheng
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: shian.sheng
*** Palladius: сяньшэн (sjanʹšɛn)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵/ → /ɕi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ²/
** (Chengdu)
*** Sichuanese Pinyin: xian$^1$ sen$^1$
*** Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: xiansen
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕiɛn⁵⁵ sən⁵⁵/
** (Dungan)
*** Cyrillic and Wiktionary: щянсын (xi͡ansɨn, I-I)
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕiæ̃²⁴ səŋ²⁴/
    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: sin$^1$ saang$^1$
*** Yale: sīn sāang
*** Cantonese Pinyin: sin$^1$ saang$^1$
*** Guangdong Romanization: xin$^1$ sang$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /siːn⁵⁵ saːŋ⁵⁵/
* Gan
** (Nanchang)
*** Wiktionary: xien$^1$ sen
*** Sinological IPA : /ɕiɛn⁴² sɛn²/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: sîn-sâng
*** Hakka Romanization System: xin$^ˊ$ sang$^ˊ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: xin$^1$ sang$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /sin²⁴⁻¹¹ saŋ²⁴/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: sin$^ˋ$ sang$^ˋ$
*** Sinological IPA: /sin⁵³ saŋ⁵³/
** (Meixian)
*** Guangdong: xin$^1$ sang$^1$
*** Sinological IPA: /sin⁴⁴ saŋ⁴⁴/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: xie$^1$ seng$^1$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /ɕie¹¹ səŋ¹¹/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: sĭng-săng
*** Sinological IPA : /siŋ⁵⁵ $^{(s-)}$naŋ⁵⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: seng$^1$ sa$^1$ [Phonetic: seng$^5$ na$^1$]
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: seng-saⁿ
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬɛŋ⁵³³⁻²¹ $^{(ɬ-)}$na⁵³³/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: seng$^1$ saⁿ$^1$ [Phonetic: seng$^5$ na$^1$]
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬɛŋ⁵³³⁻²¹ $^{(ɬ-)}$na⁵³³/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Tong'an, Taipei, Kaohsiung, Lukang, Sanxia, Kinmen, Magong, Hsinchu, Singapore, Philippines)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sian-siⁿ
*** Tâi-lô: sian-sinn
*** Phofsit Daibuun: siensvy
*** IPA (Xiamen, Tong'an, Kinmen, Singapore): /siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² sĩ⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Quanzhou, Lukang, Philippines): /siɛn³³ sĩ³³/
*** IPA (Taipei, Kaohsiung): /siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ sĩ⁴⁴/
** (Hokkien: Zhangzhou, Yilan, Taichung, Singapore, Penang)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sin-seⁿ
*** Tâi-lô: sin-senn
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sinsvef
*** IPA (Penang): /sin³³⁻²¹ sɛ̃³³/
*** IPA (Singapore): /sin⁴⁴⁻²² sẽ⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Yilan): /sin⁴⁴⁻³³ sẽ⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /sin⁴⁴⁻²² sɛ̃⁴⁴/
** (Hokkien: Tainan, Singapore)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sian-seⁿ
*** Tâi-lô: sian-senn
*** Phofsit Daibuun: siensvef
*** IPA (Singapore): /siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² sẽ⁴⁴/
*** IPA (Tainan): /siɛn⁴⁴⁻³³ sẽ⁴⁴/
** (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sian-seng
*** Tâi-lô: sian-sing
*** Phofsit Daibuun: siensefng
*** IPA (Zhangzhou): /siɛn⁴⁴⁻²² siɪŋ⁴⁴/
** (Hokkien: Hui'an)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: sen-siⁿ
*** Tâi-lô: sen-sinn
*** Phofsit Daibuun: sensvy
*** IPA (Hui'an): /sen³³ sĩ³³/
** (Hokkien: General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: siăn-sé
*** Tâi-lô: sia̋n-sé
*** IPA (Taipei): /siɛn³⁵ se⁵³/
*** IPA (Kaohsiung): /siɛn³⁵ se⁴¹/
** (Teochew)
*** Peng'im: sing$^1$ sên$^1$ / sêng$^1$ sên$^1$
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: sing seⁿ / seng seⁿ
*** Sinological IPA : /siŋ³³⁻²³ sẽ³³/, /seŋ³³⁻²³ sẽ³³/
* Wu
** (Northern: Shanghai)
*** Wugniu: $^1$shi-san$_1$
*** MiniDict: shi$^平$ san$^平$
*** Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): $^1$xi-san$_1$
*** Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /ɕi⁵⁵ sã²¹/
* Middle Chinese: sen sraeng
Rime :
| Character | 先 | 生 |
| Reading # | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 心 (16) | 生 (21) |
| Final (韻) | 先 (85) | 庚 (109) |
| Tone (調) | Level (Ø) | Level (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open | Open |
| Division (等) | IV | II |
| Fanqie | 蘇前切 | 所庚切 |
| Baxter | sen | sraeng |
| Reconstructions |||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /sen/ | /ʃˠæŋ/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /sen/ | /ʃᵚaŋ/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /sɛn/ | /ʃaŋ/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /sɛn/ | /ʂaɨjŋ/ |
| Li Rong | /sen/ | /ʃɐŋ/ |
| Wang Li | /sien/ | /ʃɐŋ/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /sien/ | /ʂɐŋ/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | xiān | shēng |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | sin$^1$ | sang$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*sˤər sreŋ|sreŋ/
    (Zhengzhang): /*sɯːn sʰleːŋ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 先 | 生 | 生 |
| Reading # | 1/2 | 1/3 | 3/3 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | xiān | shēng | shēng |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ sen › | ‹ sræng › | ‹ srjæng › |
| Old Chinese | /*sˁər/ | /*sreŋ/ (MC srj- > sr-; or *s.reŋ ?) | /*sreŋ/ (or *s.reŋ ?) |
| English | first | bear, be born; live | bear, be born; live |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 先 | 生 |
| Reading # | 1/2 | 1/2 |
| No. | 13458 | 11312 |
| Phonetic component | 先 | 生 |
| Rime group | 文 | 耕 |
| Rime subdivision | 1 | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 先 | 生 |
| Old Chinese | /*sɯːn/ | /*sʰleːŋ/ |

### Noun

先生
* An honorific for adults, usually conferred on males: mister; sir; gentleman
    王先生來了。／王先生来了。 [Taiwanese Mandarin] ― Wáng xiānshēng lái le. [Pinyin] ― Mr. Wang has come.
       Ông--sian-seⁿ lâi--ah. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]
       Mr. Ong has come.
       Chén xiānsheng bèi yuándānwèi pàiqiǎn dào liánsuǒ gōngsī gōngzuò. [Pinyin]
       Mr. Chen was sent by his former organization to work at a chain company.
* husband
* (literal, Classical) one who was born earlier
    From: The Classic of Poetry, c. 11th – 7th centuries BCE, translated based on James Legge's version
    Dàn mí jué yuè, xiānshēng rú dá. [Pinyin]
    When she had fulfilled her months, Her first-born son [came forth] like a lamb.
* (literary) father and elder brother
* (literary) ancestor
* (literary) Taoist priest
* (Gan, Hakka, Min, dated in Mandarin and Jin) doctor
    From: 1918, Lu Xun, A Madman's Diary
    Dàgē shuō: “Jīntiān qǐng Hé xiānshēng lái, gěi nǐ zhěn yī zhěn.” [Pinyin]
    My elder brother said, "Today, I've invited Dr. He to come and give you a check up."
* (dialectal) traditional Chinese medicine physician
* (honorific in Mandarin, Jin; common in Cantonese, Gan, Hakka, Min) teacher
       Sian-siⁿ kóng, ha̍k-seng tiām-tiām thiaⁿ. [Pe̍h-ōe-jī]
       The teacher speaks, and the students silently listen.
    From: Zhuangzi, circa 3rd – 2nd centuries BCE
    Lièzǐ yuē: “Xī, zǐ zhī xiānshēng sǐ yǐ, fú huó yǐ.” [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)
    From: 1924, Hu Shih, Life of Mr. Close Enough
    Tā zài xuétáng de shíhòu, xiānshēng wèn tā: “Zhílì Shěng de xībiān shì nǎ yī shěng?” Tā shuō shì Shǎnxī. Xiānshēng shuō: “Cuò le, shì Shānxī, bùshì Shǎnxī.” Tā shuō: “Shǎnxī tóng Shānxī, bùshì chābùduō ma?” [Pinyin]
    When he went to school, the teacher asked him: "Which province is west of Zhili Province?" He answered Shaanxi. The teacher said: "Wrong, it is Shanxi, not Shaanxi." He said: "Would Shaanxi and Shanxi not be close enough?"
* (obsolete or Wu) female prostitute

#### Usage notes

Some females are also referred with the term 先生, however, this term is reserved for older and highly respected ones, and almost for specific persons only, e.g. Soong Ching-ling, He Xiangning and Yang Jiang. For most instances 女士 (nǚshì, “Ms.”) is used. Whether this term can be used for females is still a topic being debated.

#### Synonyms

* (husband):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 夫, 夫婿, 郎 †, 良人 †, 相公 † |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 丈夫, 先生, 夫婿 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 丈夫, 男人, 爺們, 女婿, 漢子, 爺們兒, 當家的, 老頭子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 老公, 先生 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chengde | 男人 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Ulanhot | 當家的, 老爺們兒 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Tongliao | 當家的, 老爺們兒 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chifeng | 丈夫, 當家的, 老爺們兒 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Hulunbuir (Hailar) | 丈夫, 當家的, 班兒上的 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Heihe | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Qiqihar | 丈夫, 當家的, 外頭的, 屋外的 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 丈夫, 老登, 男人, 掌櫃的, 當家的, 漢子, 老爺們兒, 爺們兒, 老頭子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Jiamusi | 丈夫, 當家的, 掌櫃的, 老頭子 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Baicheng | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Changchun | 當家的, 老爺們兒 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Tonghua | 當家的 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Shenyang | 丈夫, 當家的, 先生, 男人 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Jinzhou | 丈夫, 當家的, 先生, 女婿 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 老公 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 老公, 先生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 丈夫, 先生, 爺們兒 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tangshan | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Cangzhou | 丈夫, 當家的, 掌櫃的 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Baoding | 當家的 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Shijiazhuang | 丈夫 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Weifang (Weicheng) | 漢子, 男人, 當家的 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Weifang (Fangzi) | 漢子, 男人, 男的, 當家的 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Changle | 漢子, 男人, 男的, 外頭 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Shouguang | 漢子, 男人, 男的 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Wulian | 男人, 當家的, 老漢子 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 男的, 男人, 女婿 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Dalian | 漢子 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Dandong | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai | 男人 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 男人, 漢子, 外頭兒人 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingdao | 外頭人, 當家的, 老頭子 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Weifang (Hanting) | 漢子, 男人, 男的 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Changyi | 漢子, 男人, 男的 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Gaomi | 漢子, 男人, 男的 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Zhucheng | 漢子, 男人, 男的, 外頭 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Anqiu | 漢子, 男的, 外頭, 當家的 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Linqu | 男的, 外頭, 女婿 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingzhou | 漢子, 男人, 男的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 男人, 當家的, 外頭人 † |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Lingbao | 丈夫, 外頭人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Jining | 男人, 外頭 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 男人, 漢 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Linfen | 掌櫃的, 男人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Shangqiu | 當家的, 外頭人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Yuanyang | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Zhengzhou | 男人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Kaifeng | 男人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xinyang | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Baihe | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 丈夫, 當家的, 男人, 外頭家, 外前人, 外頭人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Baoji | 丈夫, 男人 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Tianshui | 男人, 掌櫃的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 男人, 當家的, 掌櫃的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 丈夫, 男人, 老頭兒, 老頭子, 當家的, 外人兒, 男的 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Fuyang | 丈夫, 當家的, 先生 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 丈夫, 男人, 老漢 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 丈夫, 漢子, 男人 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Bayanhot | 丈夫, 家裡的, 男人 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 丈夫, 當家的, 男人 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Dunhuang | 男人, 男的, 老漢 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Hami | 丈夫 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 丈夫, 當家的, 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 男的, 男人, 伙子, 小伙子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Nanchong | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dazhou | 男的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Hanyuan | 丈夫, 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Xichang | 男的個 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Zigong | 丈夫, 當家的, 當家人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chongqing | 男人, 老公, 當家人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 丈夫, 當家的, 先生, 男人, 男的, 男將 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Yichang | 丈夫, 當家人, 領頭人, 男的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Xiangyang | 丈夫, 當家的, 外頭人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Tianmen | 丈夫, 當家的, 先生, 男將 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 男人, 男的, 漢子, 門前人, 當家的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Zunyi | 男的, 老公, 門前人, 男人, 男邊的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Bijie | 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liping | 丈夫, 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Zhaotong | 當家的, 男的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dali | 漢子 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Kunming | 當家的, 老倌, 老倌兒, 男的, 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mengzi | 老倌兒 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 丈夫, 老公, 當家的 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 丈夫, 老公 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Sanjiang (Danzhou) | 老公 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Jishou | 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Changde | 男人 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Hanzhong | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 丈夫, 當家的, 男的, 男人, 老爹, 老公 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 丈夫, 當家的, 男的, 男人, 老爹 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Lianyungang | 丈夫, 當家的, 男人, 掌櫃的 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Lianshui | 丈夫, 男人 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Xinghua | 男人, 男將 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nantong | 男人, 男哩, 老公 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Anqing | 丈夫, 男人 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Wuhu | 丈夫, 先生 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 丈夫, 男人, 老爹們 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hong'an | 丈夫, 外手的, 男將 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 老公, 男人 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 老公, 先生 non-face-to-face |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 老公, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Wuzhou | 老公, 男人佬 |
| Cantonese | Yulin | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Dongxing | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 老公 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 老公, 老爺 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 老公, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 老公 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 老公, 男客 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 老公, 男客 |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 男子, 老公 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 老公 |
| Hakka | Xingning | 老公 |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Huiyang | 老公 |
| Hakka | Huidong (Daling) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Wuhua (Huacheng) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Heyuan (Bendihua) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Wengyuan | 老公 |
| Hakka | Shaoguan (Qujiang) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Lianshan (Xiaosanjiang) | 男人 |
| Hakka | Liannan | 老公 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Jiexi | 老公 |
| Hakka | Luhe | 老公 |
| Hakka | Zhao'an (Xiuzhuan) | 丈夫 |
| Hakka | Changting | 老公 |
| Hakka | Wuping | 老公 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Yanqian) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Wuping (Pingyu) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Liancheng | 老公 |
| Hakka | Ninghua | 老公 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 老公, 當家個 |
| Hakka | Ningdu | 老公 |
| Hakka | Ruijin | 老公 |
| Hakka | Shicheng | 老公 |
| Hakka | Shangyou (Shexi) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Tonggu (Sandu) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Ganzhou (Panlong) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Dayu | 老公 |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 老公, 頭家, 老猴牯 humorous, 老貨仔 humorous |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 老公, 頭家, 老猴牯 humorous, 老貨仔 humorous |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 老公, 丈夫, 頭家, 老猴牯 humorous, 老貨仔 humorous |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 老公, 老猴牯 humorous |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 老公, 頭家, 老猴牯 humorous, 老貨仔 humorous |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 丈夫, 頭家 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 老公 |
| Hakka | Mengshan (Xihe) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Luchuan | 老公 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Daqiao) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Sabah (Longchuan) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 老公 |
| Hakka | Kuching (Hepo) | 老公, 先生 more formal and polite |
| Hakka | Singkawang | 老公 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 老官, 男人 |
| Huizhou | Shexian | 丈夫, 老公, 男人 |
| Huizhou | Huangshan (Tunxi) | 老公 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 老漢兒, 當家的, 男人 |
| Jin | Pingyao | 男人 |
| Jin | Yangyuan | 當家的, 男人, 丈夫 |
| Jin | Datong | 男人 |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 男人, 老漢, 漢子, 漢 |
| Jin | Lüliang (Lishi) | 當家的, 男人, 掌櫃的, 老漢 |
| Jin | Changzhi | 男人, 老漢子, 當家的 |
| Jin | Taibus (Baochang) | 男人 |
| Jin | Linhe | 男人, 漢子 |
| Jin | Jining | 漢子, 當家的, 男人, 女婿 |
| Jin | Hohhot | 老漢子, 漢子, 當家的, 男人 |
| Jin | Baotou | 男人, 女婿 |
| Jin | Dongsheng | 男人 |
| Jin | Haibowan | 男人 |
| Jin | Erenhot | 丈夫, 當家的 |
| Jin | Pingshan | 當家的, 男人 |
| Jin | Zhangjiakou | 丈夫, 當家的, 老頭子 |
| Jin | Handan | 丈夫, 男人 |
| Jin | Linzhou | 當家哩, 漢了 |
| Jin | Suide | 男人, 當家的 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 丈夫, 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 丈夫, 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 老翁 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 老翁 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 老翁 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 老公 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 丈夫, 老公 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 丈夫儂, 翁, 翁婿, 先生, 老的, 老伙記, 頭家 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen (Tong'an) | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 丈夫儂, 翁, 翁婿, 老的, 老伙記, 頭家 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 翁, 丈夫儂 |
| Southern Min | Anxi | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 丈夫儂, 翁, 翁婿, 老的, 老伙仔, 老伙記, 頭家 |
| Southern Min | Zhangpu | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Zhao'an | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 先生, 翁, 頭家 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 老猴, 丈夫儂, 翁 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 老猴, 丈夫儂, 翁, 頭家, 翁婿 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 先生, 老猴, 丈夫儂, 翁, 頭家, 翁婿 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 老猴, 丈夫儂, 翁, 頭家 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 翁, 翁婿, 頭家, 丈夫儂 |
| Southern Min | Taichung (Wuqi) | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 老鏨頭, 老猴, 丈夫儂, 烏魚, 翁, 頭家 |
| Southern Min | Taitung | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 翁, 頭家, 丈夫儂 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 翁, 丈夫儂, 老的 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 翁, 丈夫儂 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 翁, 丈夫儂 |
| Southern Min | Longyan | 丈夫 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 田夫, 翁, 老公 non-face-to-face |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chenghai) | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Puning | 老, 翁 |
| Southern Min | Lufeng | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 翁, 老大仔, 老公仔 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 翁 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 翁, 老公 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 老公 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 老公 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 老公, 翁, 丈夫 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang) | 老公 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) | 老公, 丈夫 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) | 老公 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 老公, 丈夫, 翁 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Fengting) | 老公, 丈夫 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Youyang) | 老公, 丈夫 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Longdu, Shaxi) | 老公 |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 老公 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Dahe) | 男人 |
| Northern Pinghua | Lingchuan (Sanjie) | 男人 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 男人, 老公, 老頭子 |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 男人, 男客 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 男人, 屋裡 |
| Wu | Wuxi | 老官, 官人, 男人 |
| Wu | Danyang | 老公 |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 老公, 男人 |
| Wu | Ningbo | 老公, 男人, 老頭, 當家人 dated |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 老公, 男子, 屋裡 |
| Wu | Jinhua | 老公, 男子 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 男人 |
| Xiang | Xiangtan | 男人 |
| Xiang | Loudi | 男人, 他㑲爺 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 男人 |
| Xiang | Hengyang | 老公 face-to-face, 男人 old-style, non-face-to-face, 老頭子 new-style, non-face-to-face |
| Xiang | Quanzhou | 老公 |
| Note | † - used for one's own husband | † - used for one's own husband |
* (Taoist priest):
* 喃嘸佬 / 喃呒佬 (naam$^4$ mo$^4$ lou$^2$) (Cantonese)
* 牛頭 / 牛头 (niútóu) (humorous)
* 老道 (lǎodào) (informal)
* 道人 (dàorén) (honorific)
* 道士 (dàoshì)
* 道長 / 道长 (dàozhǎng) (polite)
* (doctor):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 大夫 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 醫生, 醫師 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 大夫 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 醫生, 醫師, 大夫 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Ulanhot | 大夫 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Tongliao | 大夫 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Chifeng | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Hulunbuir (Hailar) | 醫生, 大夫 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Harbin | 大夫, 醫生, 先生 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Shenyang | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 醫生 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 醫生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tianjin | 大夫, 先生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Tangshan | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Cangzhou | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Baoding | 大夫, 先生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Shijiazhuang | 醫生, 大夫 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Weifang (Weicheng) | 先生, 大夫 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Weifang (Fangzi) | 大夫 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Changle | 先生, 大夫 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Shouguang | 大夫 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Wulian | 先生 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 大夫, 先生 TCM, dated |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Yantai (Muping) | 大夫, 醫生, 先生 TCM, dated |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingdao | 醫生, 大夫 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Weifang (Hanting) | 先生, 大夫 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Changyi | 先生, 大夫 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Gaomi | 先生, 大夫 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Zhucheng | 大夫, 醫生 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Anqiu | 先生, 大夫 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Linqu | 先生 |
| Jiaoliao Mandarin | Qingzhou | 先生, 大夫 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Luoyang | 大夫, 醫生 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Wanrong | 看病先生, 先生, 大夫, 醫生, 醫人 dated |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Zhengzhou | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 TCM |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Kaifeng | 先生, 大夫 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 醫生, 大夫, 看病的, 看病先生 dated, 先生 dated |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xining | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xuzhou | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Sokuluk (Gansu Dungan) | 大夫, 先生, 道可討兒 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Yinchuan | 醫生, 先生, 大夫 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Bayanhot | 醫生, 大夫 |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Lanzhou | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 TCM |
| Lanyin Mandarin | Ürümqi | 大夫, 醫生, 醫官, 先生 TCM |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 醫生, 老師 TCM, 先生 TCM |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chongqing | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 dated |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guiyang | 醫師, 醫生, 先生 TCM, dated |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Kunming | 醫生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Lancang | 醫生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Guilin | 醫生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Pingle | 醫師 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Liuzhou | 醫生, 醫師, 牛一 slang |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Luzhai | 醫師 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Xiangtan (Jiangnan Industries Group koine) | 醫生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dagudi (Maliba) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Reshuitang (Longling) | 醫生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Salong (Lancang) | 醫生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Sai (Tengchong) | 醫生 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nanjing | 醫生, 先生 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 醫生, 大夫, 先生, 郎中 TCM, 醫家先生 dated |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Xinghua | 醫家先生, 先生, 醫生 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Nantong | 醫生, 先生 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 TCM, 郎中 TCM |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Huanggang | 先生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 醫生, 先生 TCM |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 醫生, 醫師 TCM, 先生 TCM |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (San Tin; Weitou) | 先生 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Kam Tin; Weitou) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Ting Kok) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong (Tung Ping Chau) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Macau | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Panyu) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Huashan, Huadu) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Conghua) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou (Zengcheng) | 先生, 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Foshan | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shatou, Nanhai) | 醫家先生 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Shunde) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Sanshui) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Foshan (Mingcheng, Gaoming) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Zhongshan (Shiqi) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Qianshan, Xiangzhou) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Shangheng, Doumen; Tanka) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Zhuhai (Doumen) | 先生, 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Baisha) | 先生 |
| Cantonese | Jiangmen (Xinhui) | 先生 |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Kaiping (Chikan) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Enping (Niujiang) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Heshan (Yayao) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Dongguan | 先生, 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Shenzhen (Shajing, Bao'an) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Shaoguan | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Yunfu | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Xinyi | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Lianjiang | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Nanning | 醫生, 醫師 |
| Cantonese | Wuzhou | 醫生, 醫師 |
| Cantonese | Yulin | 醫師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Hepu (Lianzhou) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Qinzhou | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Kuala Lumpur (Guangfu) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 醫生 |
| Cantonese | Bangkok (Guangfu) | 醫生 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 醫生, 郎中, 先生 |
| Gan | Poyang | 醫師 |
| Gan | Yugan | 醫師 |
| Gan | Wannian | 醫師 |
| Gan | Yiyang, Jiangxi | 郎中, 先生 |
| Gan | Hengfeng | 醫生 |
| Gan | Yanshan (Hekou) | 醫師 |
| Gan | Lichuan | 醫師, 郎中 dated |
| Gan | Pingxiang | 醫師, 郎中 TCM, dated |
| Hakka | Meixian | 醫生, 先生, 看病先生 TCM |
| Hakka | Huizhou (Huicheng; Bendihua) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Dongguan (Qingxi) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Shenzhen (Shatoujiao) | 先生, 醫生 |
| Hakka | Zhongshan (Nanlang Heshui) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Guangzhou (Lütian, Conghua) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Jiexi | 先生 |
| Hakka | Yudu | 醫師, 醫生, 郎中 TCM, 先生 TCM, dated |
| Hakka | Miaoli (N. Sixian) | 先生, 醫生, 醫師 |
| Hakka | Pingtung (Neipu; S. Sixian) | 先生, 醫生, 醫師 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Zhudong; Hailu) | 先生, 醫生, 醫師 |
| Hakka | Taichung (Dongshi; Dabu) | 先生, 醫生, 醫師 |
| Hakka | Hsinchu County (Qionglin; Raoping) | 先生, 醫生, 醫師 |
| Hakka | Yunlin (Lunbei; Zhao'an) | 先生, 醫生 |
| Hakka | Hong Kong | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Luchuan (Daqiao) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Sabah (Longchuan) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Senai (Huiyang) | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Singkawang | 醫生 |
| Hakka | Bangkok (Meixian) | 先生, 醫生 |
| Hakka | Bangkok (Jiexi) | 醫生 |
| Huizhou | Jixi | 醫師, 醫生 |
| Huizhou | Shexian | 醫生, 先生 |
| Huizhou | Wuyuan | 醫師 |
| Huizhou | Dexing | 郎中 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 大夫, 醫生, 郎中 TCM, 先生 dated |
| Jin | Pingyao | 醫生, 大夫 Western, 先生 TCM |
| Jin | Xinzhou | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 dated |
| Jin | Taibus (Baochang) | 醫生 |
| Jin | Linhe | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Jin | Jining | 醫生, 大夫, 看病先生 |
| Jin | Hohhot | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Jin | Baotou | 看病先生 |
| Jin | Dongsheng | 大夫 |
| Jin | Haibowan | 醫官, 大夫 |
| Jin | Zhangjiakou | 大夫, 看病先生 |
| Jin | Handan | 醫生, 大夫, 先生 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 醫生, 先生 TCM |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou (Dikou) | 覷病先生, 醫生 |
| Northern Min | Zhenghe (Zhenqian) | 覷病先生, 醫生 |
| Northern Min | Pucheng (Shibei) | 覷病先生, 醫生 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 醫生, 先生 TCM, 看病先生 TCM, 三格指醫生 TCM |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou (Changle) | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Fuqing | 先生, 醫生 Western, 郎中 TCM |
| Eastern Min | Yongtai | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Gutian | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Pingnan | 醫生, 先生 dated |
| Eastern Min | Fu'an | 睨病先生 |
| Eastern Min | Ningde | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Shouning | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Zhouning | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Fuding | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 醫生, 醫師, 醫官, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Jinjiang | 先生儂 |
| Southern Min | Yongchun | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Dongshan | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 醫生, 老君 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 老君, 先生 TCM |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 醫生 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Zhangping (Yongfu) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Datian | 先生 TCM |
| Southern Min | Pingnan (Shangdu) | 醫師, 醫生 |
| Southern Min | Guilin (Biyange) | 藥先生 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 醫生, 生師, 先生 TCM |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 醫生, 生師, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Jieyang | 醫生, 生師, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Haifeng | 醫生 |
| Southern Min | Bangkok (Teochew) | 醫生 |
| Southern Min | Chiang Mai (Teochew) | 醫生, 先生 |
| Southern Min | Hat Yai (Teochew) | 醫生 |
| Southern Min | Johor Bahru (Teochew) | 老君 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Teochew) | 老君 |
| Southern Min | Batam (Teochew) | 老君 |
| Southern Min | Pontianak (Teochew) | 醫生, 生師 |
| Southern Min | Leizhou | 醫官, 先生 dated |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Haikou | 醫生, 先生 dated |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hainanese) | 醫生 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 醫生, 先生 TCM |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) | 先生 TCM |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) | 先生 TCM |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 先生 TCM |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Fengting) | 先生 TCM |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Youyang) | 先生 TCM |
| Central Min | Nanping (Wangtai, Yanping) | 醫生 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Sanxiang) | 醫生, 先生 TCM |
| Southern Pinghua | Nanning (Tingzi) | 醫生, 醫師 |
| Northern Pinghua | Guilin (Dahe) | 醫生 |
| Northern Pinghua | Lingchuan (Sanjie) | 醫生 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 醫生, 郎中 TCM, dated |
| Wu | Shanghai (Chongming) | 郎中 TCM |
| Wu | Suzhou | 醫生, 郎中, 先生 TCM |
| Wu | Danyang | 醫生, 郎中 TCM, 先生 dated |
| Wu | Hangzhou | 醫生, 郎中先生 dated |
| Wu | Ningbo | 醫生, 先生, 郎中 TCM |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 醫生, 醫師, 先生 chiefly TCM, 醫藥先生 TCM |
| Wu | Jinhua | 醫師, 醫生, 先生, 郎中 TCM, dated |
| Wu | Shangrao | 先生 |
| Wu | Shangrao (Guangfeng) | 先生 |
| Wu | Yushan | 醫生 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 醫生, 大夫, 醫師 TCM, 先生 TCM, 郎中 TCM or dated |
| Xiang | Loudi | 郎中 TCM, 郎中先生 TCM |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 醫師, 郎中 TCM |
| Xiang | Hengyang | 醫生 |
| Xiang | Quanzhou | 醫師 |
| Note | TCM: doctor practising traditional Chinese medicine | TCM: doctor practising traditional Chinese medicine |
* (teacher):
| Variety | Location | Words |
| Classical Chinese | Classical Chinese | 師, 先生 |
| Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | Formal (Written Standard Chinese) | 教師, 教員, 老師, 先生 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Beijing | 老師 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Taiwan | 老師 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Malaysia | 老師 |
| Northeastern Mandarin | Singapore | 老師 |
| Jilu Mandarin | Jinan | 老師, 先生 |
| Central Plains Mandarin | Xi'an | 老師, 先生 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Chengdu | 老師, 先生, 教師, 教書匠 derogatory, 叫姑姑 derogatory |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Wuhan | 老師, 教師 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Dagudi (Maliba) | 老師 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Reshuitang (Longling) | 老師 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Salong (Lancang) | 老師 |
| Southwestern Mandarin | Mae Sai (Tengchong) | 老師 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Yangzhou | 教師, 先生, 老師 |
| Jianghuai Mandarin | Hefei | 教師, 老師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Guangzhou | 老師, 先生, 教師, 教書佬, 阿Sir male |
| Cantonese | Hong Kong | 老師, 先生, 阿Sir male, 搣時 female |
| Cantonese | Taishan | 老師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Yangjiang | 老師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Qinzhou | 老師 |
| Cantonese | Qinzhou (Xiniujiao) | 老師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Beihai | 老師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cô Tô) | 老師, 先生 |
| Cantonese | Beihai (Qiaogang - Cát Bà) | 老師 |
| Cantonese | Fangchenggang (Fangcheng) | 老師 |
| Cantonese | Singapore (Guangfu) | 老師 |
| Cantonese | Ho Chi Minh City (Guangfu) | 先生 |
| Cantonese | Móng Cái | 老師, 先生 |
| Gan | Nanchang | 老師, 先生 |
| Hakka | Meixian | 老師, 先生, 教師 |
| Jin | Taiyuan | 老師, 先生 |
| Northern Min | Jian'ou | 老師, 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Fuzhou | 先生, 老師 |
| Eastern Min | Matsu | 先生 |
| Eastern Min | Singapore (Fuqing) | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Xiamen | 先生, 老師, 先生儂 |
| Southern Min | Quanzhou | 先生, 老師, 先生儂 |
| Southern Min | Zhangzhou | 先生, 老師, 先生儂, 教學仔, 教冊仔, 教學仔仙 derogatory |
| Southern Min | Taipei | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | New Taipei (Sanxia) | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Kaohsiung | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Yilan | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Changhua (Lukang) | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Taichung | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Tainan | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Hsinchu | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Kinmen | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Penghu (Magong) | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Penang (Hokkien) | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Singapore (Hokkien) | 先生, 先生儂, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Manila (Hokkien) | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Guilin (Biyange) | 先生 |
| Southern Min | Qinzhou (Liwu) | 老師 |
| Southern Min | Chaozhou | 先生, 老師 |
| Southern Min | Shantou | 先生, 老師, 教師 |
| Southern Min | Shantou (Chaoyang) | 老師 |
| Southern Min | Wenchang | 老師 |
| Southern Min | Qionghai | 老師 |
| Puxian Min | Putian | 先生, 教書阿 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Donghai, Chengxiang) | 先生 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Jiangkou, Hanjiang) | 先生 |
| Puxian Min | Putian (Nanri, Xiuyu) | 先生, 教書厄 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou | 老師, 先生, 教師 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Fengting) | 老師, 先生, 教師 |
| Puxian Min | Xianyou (Youyang) | 老師, 先生, 教書厄 |
| Zhongshan Min | Zhongshan (Sanxiang) | 先生 |
| Wu | Shanghai | 老師, 教師, 教書先生 |
| Wu | Suzhou | 教師, 教書先生 |
| Wu | Wenzhou | 教師, 教書先生, 先生 |
| Xiang | Changsha | 老師, 教書先生 |
| Xiang | Shuangfeng | 老師, 教書先生 |
* (female prostitute):
* 大先生 (Wu, dated)
* 妓女 (jìnǚ)
* 娼妓 (chāngjì)
* 媌 (miáo)
* 小先生 ($^5$shiau-shi-san) (Wu, dated)
* 幺二 ($^1$iau-gni) (Wu, dated, inferior)
* 煙花女 / 烟花女 (yānhuānǚ)
* 神女 (shénnǚ) (euphemistic)
* 站街女 (zhànjiēnǚ) (euphemistic)

#### Derived terms

* 人靚毋當命靚，跛腳仔嫁先生 / 人靓毋当命靓，跛脚仔嫁先生
* 先生人
* 先生囝
* 先生娘
* 先生媽 / 先生妈
* 先生嬸 / 先生婶
* 先生弟子
* 先生禮 / 先生礼
* 地理先生
* 好好先生
* 小先生 (xiǎoxiānsheng)
* 有狀元學生，無狀元先生 / 有状元学生，无状元先生
* 梵行先生
* 楮先生 (chǔxiānshēng)
* 第一先生
* 算命先生 (suànmìng xiānsheng)
* 算命先生半路亡，木匠先生無眠床 / 算命先生半路亡，木匠先生无眠床
* 紅先生 / 红先生
* 老先生 (lǎoxiānshēng)
* 風水先生 / 风水先生 (fēngshuǐ xiānshēng)
* 齒科先生 / 齿科先生

#### Descendants

* → Japanese: 先生(せんせい) (sensei) (see there for further descendants)
* → Okinawan: 先生(しんしー) (shinshī)
* → Korean: 선생(先生) (seonsaeng)
* → Jeju: 선싕 (seonsuing) ; 선셍 (seonseng); 선승 (seonseung)
* → Vietnamese: tiên sinh (先生)
Others:
* → English: sinseh (via Hokkien)
* → Indonesian: sinse, singse, sengsai (via Hokkien)
* → Khmer: ស៊ិនសែ (sɨnsae) (via Teochew)
* → Thai: ซินแส (sin-sɛ̌ɛ), จีนแส (jiin-sɛ̌ɛ) (via Teochew)

#### See also

* 太太 (tàitai)
* 女士 (nǚshì)
* (Mr.): 氏 (shì)

#### References

* (Hokkien) “先生”, in 教育部臺灣台語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwanese Taigi] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2025.
* (Hakka) “Entry #1486”, in 臺灣客語辭典 [Dictionary of Taiwan Hakka] (overall work in Chinese and Hakka), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2022.
* (Puxian Min) 莆田市政协文化文史和学习委员会 [Culture, History and Learning Committee of Putian CPPCC], editor (2021), “先生”, in 莆仙方言大词典 [Comprehensive Dictionary of Puxian Dialect] (overall work in Mandarin and Puxian Min), Xiamen University Press, →ISBN, page 474.

## Japanese
### Etymology 1

Kanji in this term :
| 先 | 生 |
| せん Grade: 1 | せい Grade: 1 |
| kan'on ||
* Alternative spellings
* せんせー センセー
From Middle Chinese 先生 (MC sen|senH sraeng|sraengH, literally “born earlier”).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) せんせー [sèńséꜜè] (Nakadaka – [3])
* IPA: [sẽ̞ɰ̃se̞ː]

#### Noun

先(せん)生(せい) • (sensei)
* an elder
* a scholar
* a teacher or a professor
** 1984 February 20 [1983 June 15], Motoka Murakami, “多(た)感(かん)な季(と)節(き)の巻(まき) [A Season Full of Emotions]”, in 六(ム)三(サ)四(シ)の剣(けん) [Musashi’s Sword], 4th edition, volume 10 (fiction), Tokyo: Shogakukan, →ISBN, pages 161–162:
    学(がっ)校(こう)のみんなも先(せん)生(せい)のことさ好(す)いてる……母(か)っちゃすきか⁉もちろん好(す)きよ‼ほんとにいい先(せん)生(せい)ですもの…オラもすきだあ。んでも、先(せん)生(せい)は先(せん)生(せい)だあ…オラの父(と)っちゃにはなれねえ！え…⁉それ…ひょっとして、私(わたくし)と八(や)重(え)樫(がし)先(せん)生(せい)が結(けっ)婚(こん)するってこと……⁉
       Gakkō no minna mo Sensei no koto sa suiteru…… Katcha suki ka⁉
       Everybody at school likes Sensei…… Ya like him, Ma⁉
       Mochiron suki yo‼ Honto ni ii sensei desu mono…
       Of course‼ He’s a very good teacher…
       Ora mo suki dā. N demo, Sensei wa Sensei dā… Ora no totcha ni wa narenē!
       Ah like him, too. But Sensei’s only Sensei… He could never be mah pa!
       E…⁉ Sore… hyotto shite, watakushi to Yaegashi Sensei ga kekkon surutte koto……⁉
       What…⁉ Wait… You think I’m gonna marry Yaegashi Sensei……⁉
* sensei (Japanese martial arts teacher)
* sir, a polite form of address to teachers, doctors, etc.

##### Usage notes

* This is a term of respect, reserved only for speaking about others, and considered somewhat impolite (immodest) to use when referring to oneself. Instead, the term 教師 (kyōshi, “teacher”, literally “teaching + teacher”) is considered more socially appropriate when referring to oneself.
* This is an example of a word that can be spelled with katakana to convey an informal conversational tone, as センセー.

##### Derived terms

* 大(だい)先(せん)生(せい) (daisensei): great teacher, high authority

##### Descendants

* → English: sensei
* → French: sensei
* → Hokkien: siăn-sé
* → Korean: 센세이 (sensei)
* → Indonesian: sensei
* → Palauan: sensei
* → Portuguese: sensei
* → Spanish: sensei
* → Yami: sinsi

#### Suffix

先(せん)生(せい) • (-sensei)
* a title used after the name of teachers, doctors, lawyers, or certain other professionals

#### See also

* 師(し)匠(しょう) (shishō): a master, a teacher
* 医(い)師(し) (ishi): a medical doctor
* 教(きょう)師(し) (kyōshi): a teacher
* 教(きょう)授(じゅ) (kyōju): a professor
* 弁(べん)護(ご)士(し) (bengoshi): an attorney, a lawyer

### Etymology 2

Kanji in this term :
| 先 | 生 |
| しぇん Grade: 1 | しぇい Grade: 1 |
| irregular ||

#### Noun

先(しぇん)生(しぇい) • (shenshei)
* (Hakata) teacher, professor

### References

* ↑ Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
   * 2002, Ineko Kondō; Fumi Takano; Mary E Althaus; et. al., Shogakukan Progressive Japanese-English Dictionary, Third Edition, Tokyo: Shōgakukan, →ISBN.

## Korean

Hanja in this term :
| 先 | 生 |

### Noun

先生 • (seonsaeng) (hangeul 선생)
* hanja form of 선생 (“teacher”)

## Okinawan

Kanji in this term :
| 先 | 生 |
| しん Grade: 1 | しー Grade: 1 |
| on'yomi ||

### Etymology

From Middle Chinese 先生 (MC sen|senH sraeng|sraengH). Cognate with Japanese 先生 (sensei), Korean 선생 (seonsaeng), Jeju 선싕 (seonsuing).

### Noun

先(しん)生(しー) (shinshī)
* teacher

## Vietnamese

chữ Hán Nôm in this term :
| 先 | 生 |

### Noun

先生
* chữ Hán form of tiên sinh (“(Chinese fiction) you, a senior or knowledgeable person”).