Meaning
师兄 refers to a male student who studied under the same master or teacher before you did, making him your senior in that learning relationship. It's commonly used in martial arts schools, traditional crafts, religious institutions, and academic settings to show respect for someone who entered the training earlier.
Usage
This term carries connotations of respect and hierarchy within a shared learning community. It's especially common in martial arts contexts, Buddhist/Taoist monasteries, and traditional apprenticeship settings. In modern universities, students might casually use it for senior male students in the same department, though 学长 is more common in that context.
Examples
- 01这位是我的师兄，他比我早三年拜师学武。, .This is my senior martial brother; he became the master's student three years before me.
- 02师兄，请问这个动作应该怎么做？, ?Senior brother, could you please tell me how to do this movement?
Characters
Measure words
- 位一位师兄
- 个一个师兄
Common collocations
- 大师兄eldest senior brother (most senior male student)
- 师兄师姐senior fellow students (both male and female)
Antonyms
Origin
Combines 师 (teacher/master) with 兄 (elder brother) to create a familial term for senior fellow students, reflecting the traditional Chinese view of teacher-student relationships as family-like bonds.