Chinese–EnglishWith examples

先生

xiān sheng · xian sheng

Same in simplified and traditional Chinese

HSK 1Measure word: 位 wèi

Meaning

CC-CEDICT
  1. teacher
  2. gentleman; sir; mister (Mr.)
  3. husband
  4. (dialect) doctor
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In a conversation

0:20 cartoon

Sir, what would you like?

  1. Liangliang

    先生(xiānsheng)，您(nín)想(xiǎng)喝(hē)点(diǎn)什么(shénme)？

    Sir, what would you like to drink?

  2. Dengdeng

    先生(xiānsheng)？我(wǒ)吗(ma)？

    Sir? Me?

  3. Liangliang

    对(duì)，您(nín)是(shì)客人(kèrén)，所以(suǒyǐ)叫(jiào)您(nín)先生(xiānsheng)。

    Yes, you are our guest, so we call you sir.

  4. Dengdeng

    那(nà)我(wǒ)也(yě)叫(jiào)你(nǐ)先生(xiānsheng)，好吗(hǎoma)？

    Then I will call you sir too, OK?

  5. Liangliang

    可以(kěyǐ)。先生(xiānsheng)，请问(qǐngwèn)您(nín)要(yào)什么(shénme)？

    Fine. Sir, what would you like?

  6. Dengdeng

    先生(xiānsheng)，我(wǒ)要(yào)一(yī)杯(bēi)热(rè)茶(chá)。

    Sir, I would like a cup of hot tea.

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In a sentence

2 examples
01

我(wǒ)认(rèn)识(shi)史(shǐ)密(mì)斯(sī)先(xiān)生(sheng)有(yǒu)好(hǎo)多(duō)年(nián)了(le)。

I've known Mr Smith for many years.

Tatoeba: Chinese by fucongcong · English by sundown · CC BY 2.0 FR. Pinyin added or corrected.

02

这(zhè)位(wèi)先(xiān)生(sheng)想(xiǎng)买(mǎi)两(liǎng)张(zhāng)去(qù)北(běi)京(jīng)的(de)票(piào)。

This gentleman wants to buy two tickets to Beijing.

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How to write

Stroke order & practice

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Mainland China stroke order, including traditional characters. Drawing sources & licenses.

The characters

Explore individually
先
xiān

beforehand; first; earlier; at first; originally

生
shēng

to be born; to give birth

Individual character meanings do not always explain the meaning of a whole word.

Definitions adapted from CC-CEDICT, published by MDBG and its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Pinyin display and entry grouping have been adapted.

More words starting with XExplore words in context