Sifu

Shifu is used in standard Chinese and Cantonese Chinese in two slightly different meanings.

Shifu (Chinese师父/师父, Pinyin Shifu ) is used as a respectful form of address for the teacher. In the Chinese martial arts ( Wushu ) or in professions, it expressed a special respect for the teacher as a " fatherly master." The second spelling of " Shifu " (Chinese师傅/师傅, Pinyin Shifu ) literally means " teacher - master " and is used as a general respectful form of address for every (older) adult male, such as a cook or a taxi driver.

In Taiwan, " Shifu " (师父) is used, however, as in Cantonese and mainland Chinese " Shifu " (师傅).

Academic teachers however, are not addressed as " Shifu ," but with " Laoshi " (老师).

Comparisons: Sensei, the Japanese, and Guru, the Indian counterpart.