laoshi

Laoshi (Mandarin Chinese: 老师; pinyin: lǎoshī) is the Mandarin term for a teacher or instructor. In Simplified Chinese it is 老师 and in Traditional Chinese 老師. It is used to refer to teachers in primary, secondary, and higher education, as well as to language tutors, coaches, and other mentors. When addressing a teacher, it is common to say “laoshi” followed by the surname, for example Laoshi Li. The term can also be used more broadly to refer to a respected mentor.

The word is formed from two characters: 老 means old or senior, and 师 means master or teacher. Together they convey respect for someone who guides others, reflecting Confucian traditions of education and hierarchical relationships in learning.

In modern usage, “laoshi” denotes the profession of teaching in Chinese-speaking communities. In mainland China and Taiwan, there are distinct terms for university professors (“教授”) and for teachers in schools (“老师”). Cultural attitudes toward teachers remain prominent, and Teacher’s Day is observed in various countries; in mainland China it is September 10, and in Taiwan it is September 28.