The term “sifu” is not a slang term. Although it may sound like an odd English word, that is only because it originates from another language. Here you will find the meaning of this term and information about its origin. You will also see some other meanings if there are any to be found and some conversation examples that highlight the term’s proper usage for further understanding. Finally, you will discover some synonyms for this term that you can use interchangeably without changing its meaning.
“Sifu” Meaning
What Does “Sifu” Mean?
This term is from the Chinese language and it means teacher, master, or father.
Origin of “Sifu”
The term originates from two separate Chinese words and is pronounced similarly in Cantonese and Mandarin. The first word is “si” meaning “master” and the second word is “fu” meaning “my master.” Both of these terms using the word “master” in the sense of meaning “teacher” or “father.” This term is typically used for teachers of martial arts, especially in tai chi and kung fu and is equivalent to the term “sensei” in Japanese. However, it can be used in some other cases as well to denote someone that teaches any type of trade, skill, life lesson, etc.
Other Meanings
There are currently no other meanings that can be found for this term.
Conversation Examples
A text message exchange between two friends.
- Friend 1: Are you going to tai chi class tonight?
- Friend 2: Yes, I will be there.
- Friend 1: Don’t forget that sifu wants us to bring all of our gear so he knows what he still needs to order for the tournament.
- Friend 2: Oh yeah! I had forgotten about that. Thank you for reminding me!
An online conversation between two Twitter users.
- User 1: I am new to the area and I am looking for places that my son can continue his kung fu lessons. Does anyone know of anywhere he can go?
- User 2: My dad is a sifu. He teaches kung fu and tai chi. DM me and I will give you his information.
Synonyms for “Sifu”
There are several words that you could use as a synonym for this term. Some of the other words that you could use to substitute for this term without changing its meaning include:
- master
- father
- teacher
“Sifu” Meaning Infographic
Last Updated on January 9, 2021