"Shifu" is a term from Chinese culture. Even though it is pronounced the same way, it can be written using two different sets of Chinese characters, and each set has a different meaning. The first version, "Shīfù 師傅," means "Expert Instructor." This is a respectful title used for many types of professionals in daily life.

The second version, "Shīfu 師父," means "Father-Teacher." This is a respectful title often used for teachers who guide people in self-improvement and spiritual practices. These teachers may help students learn traditions such as martial arts, painting, sculpting, feng shui, singing, and other skills. In China, both forms are used regularly. However, in English-speaking countries, people are more familiar with the second form, especially in the context of martial arts.

In the second form, "Shifu" means more than just a teacher. It refers to a teacher who cares deeply for their students, like a father or mother would. The martial arts title is also sometimes written as "Sifu" (from Cantonese) or "Saihu" (from Hokkien).

Etymology

The word "Shifu" is the English spelling of two similar but different Chinese words: 师傅 (shīfù) and 师父 (shīfu). The only difference between them is the tone of the second syllable. Since English does not use tones, these words are often written the same way in English texts. Even native Chinese speakers sometimes find it difficult to distinguish between the two because they sound similar and have related meanings.

The first word, 师傅 (shīfù), combines the syllables for "teacher" and "mentor." It is used by an apprentice when speaking to their mentor. Historically, 师傅 referred to master craftsmen. However, by the late twentieth century, the respect once given to artisans decreased as society shifted toward industry and services. Today, 傅 is less commonly used for this purpose but may still be used to respectfully address skilled workers, such as pharmacists, construction workers, plumbers, carpenters, welders, electricians, and technicians in fields like telecommunications and mechanics. During China's Cultural Revolution, 师傅 was sometimes used as a substitute for "comrade" (同志, tóngzhì) to refer to strangers.

The second term, 师父 (shīfu), replaces the syllable for "mentor" with one meaning "father." It can also be used to address a teacher but carries a more personal and respectful tone. This word is often associated with religion, as Buddhist monks, Confucian scholars, and Taoist priests may form mentor-apprentice relationships with students and be addressed with this term.

Although a martial arts instructor called a "shifu" may have a close relationship with students, the characters used for this term do not mean "master." Instead, they mean either "expertise with teaching ability" (shīfù 師傅) for a professional or "teaching as a father would" (shīfu 師父) for a martial arts instructor.

Use in martial arts

In Chinese martial arts, the term "shifu" has been used for many years to show respect for teachers. It is not a level or position, like a "black belt," but instead a title, similar to the Japanese term "Sensei."

A shifu was considered a "father" by his students, so students often called each other "brothers" or "sisters." These terms included "big brother" (師兄), "little brother" (師弟), "big sister" (師姐), and "little sister" (師妹). Other terms, such as "biggest brother" (大師兄), "second biggest sister" (二師姐), and "third biggest sister" (三師妹), could also be used. However, these terms were based on the order in which students were officially accepted by the master, not their actual age. For example, someone called "big brother" was not necessarily older than others, but was accepted first by the master.

The word "父" (father) is part of the term "師父" (shifu), but "師父" can also be used to respectfully address a female teacher. A male teacher’s wife is called "師母" (shimu), and a female teacher’s husband is called "師丈" (shizhang). Other terms, like "師伯" (shibo, big uncle) and "師叔" (shishu, little uncle), are used for the master’s fellow students. These terms depend on when the person was accepted by the master’s teacher, not their age.

When a student formally becomes a disciple of a teacher, the term "shifu" takes on a more direct meaning, similar to a parent. This is usually marked by a formal ceremony called "bai shi" (拜師). After this ceremony, the relationship between the teacher and student becomes more personal. As a result, the student may learn more detailed or secret knowledge about the martial art being taught.