sifu en · NOUN
Etymology
From Cantonese 師傅／师傅 (si1 fu6-2, “master”) and 師父／师父 (si1 fu6-2, “my master”), both also conveying the sense of teacher.
Meanings
-
A master or teacher in the context of martial arts, especially kung fu and tai chi.
Who is -- don't get cute with me, you dumb bastard, I'm your sifu.
1998, Dana Stabenow, Fire and Ice, page 134:[Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen):] Good morning, sifu Toph. [Katara (Mae Whitman):] Hey, you never call me sifu Katara.
2006 June 2, Aaron Ehasz, “Bitter Work” (1:55 from the start), in Ethan Spaulding, director, Avatar: The Last Airbender, season 2 (Book Two: Earth), episode 9, spoken by Aang and Katara (Zach Tyler Eisen and Mae Whitman):
- A spiritual father in esoteric contexts.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| shifu | alternative | lexicographic | |
| sifu | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| sifus | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Synonyms
Translations (15)
ru ши́фу (martial arts instructor) · ko 선생님 (martial arts instructor) · ru си́фу (martial arts instructor) · ko 사부 (martial arts instructor) · yue 師傅 /师傅 (martial arts instructor) · sa गुरु (martial arts instructor) · fr sifu (martial arts instructor) · fa سیفو (martial arts instructor) · cmn 師傅 /师傅 (martial arts instructor) · de Shifu (martial arts instructor) · nan-hbl 師傅 /师傅 (martial arts instructor) · ru ма́стер (martial arts instructor) · fi mestari (martial arts instructor) · ja 先生 (martial arts instructor) · fr shifu (martial arts instructor)