Chinese phrases
How to say sir in Chinese
Sir in Chinese is 先生 (xiān sheng), the polite word for a man you serve or don’t know. In daily life, people more often pick a word that fits the man: 师傅 (shī fu) for a driver or a worker, 帅哥 (shuài gē) for a young man.
先生
sir; Mr.
The second syllable is light and short: xiān sheng, not xiān shēng.
Ways to say sir
先生
Formalsir; Mr.
Hotel, bank, airline and restaurant staff say it to male customers. After a surname it means Mr.: 王先生.
师傅
Everydaymaster (to a skilled worker)
To a taxi driver, a repairman, a cook or a delivery rider: 师傅，去机场. Respectful and warm.
帅哥
Everydayyoung man (literally “handsome guy”)
To a young man you don’t know, to get his attention. Shop staff say it to young male customers. It is not flirting.
老板
Everydayboss
To the man at a market stall, a small shop or a small restaurant, even when he doesn’t own it.
大哥
With friendsbig brother
Casual and friendly, to a man a bit older than you: a driver, a neighbour, a man at a stall. Very common in the north.
您
Formalyou (polite)
Chinese often shows respect with the pronoun, not a title. Where English says “Yes, sir,” staff say 好的，您稍等.
Older men
For a man of your parents’ or grandparents’ age, people use family words.
叔叔
uncle
To a man about your parents’ age. Children and young adults say it to neighbours and strangers.
爷爷
grandpa
To an old man, politely: 爷爷，您坐.
Common mistakes
Calling a taxi driver 先生
先生 sounds like a hotel receptionist. Drivers, cooks and repairmen are 师傅: 师傅，路边停一下.
Missing that 先生 can mean husband
After 我, 你 or 她, 先生 often means husband: 我先生 is “my husband.” Hotel staff who say 先生 to you just mean “sir.”
Calling every older man 大哥
大哥 fits a man maybe ten or fifteen years older than you, and it is casual. For a man your parents’ age, 叔叔 is the polite choice.
At a hotel desk
先生您好，请问有预订吗？
Receptionist: Hello, sir. Do you have a booking?
有，我叫里昂。
Leon: Yes, my name’s Leon.
好的，麻烦出示一下您的护照。
Receptionist: OK. May I see your passport, please?
给您。
Leon: Here you are.
