博 士(はかせ)

はかせ

noun

doctor (PhD), expert

academiccolloquial

1. doctor, PhD holder

A person who has received a doctoral degree; an academic title.

彼(かれ)は工学(こうがく)博士(はかせ)の学位(がくい)を持(も)っている。

He has a PhD in engineering.

博士の学位 = doctoral degree

博士(はかせ)課程(かてい)を修了(しゅうりょう)した。

I completed my doctoral program.

2. expert, specialist

A person with extensive knowledge in a particular field; often used colloquially or in nicknames.

うちの子(こ)は恐竜(きょうりゅう)博士(はかせ)と呼(よ)ばれている。

My child is called a dinosaur expert.

Colloquial use for someone very knowledgeable

あの子(こ)は虫(むし)博士(はかせ)だ。

That kid is a bug expert.

Colloquial: ~博士 = expert in ~

何(なん)でも知(し)っているので、みんなから博士(はかせ)と呼(よ)ばれている。

Since he knows everything, everyone calls him 'the professor.'

Usage: 博士(はかせ) can refer to (1) an academic doctoral degree holder, or (2) colloquially, an expert in something. The reading はくし is also used in formal/academic contexts.

Common patterns

博士(はかせ)号(ごう) (doctoral degree)
博士(はかせ)課程(かてい) (doctoral program)
博士(はかせ)論文(ろんぶん) (doctoral thesis)
〜博士(はかせ) (Dr. ~, expert in ~)

RELATED WORDS (academic degrees):

学士(がくし) (bachelor's degree)
修士(しゅうし) (master's degree)
博士(はかせ)/博士(はくし) (doctorate)

Note: 博士(はくし) is the official reading for the academic degree. 博士(はかせ) is the everyday reading, used for an expert or a "professor" figure and in titles like 「〜博士(はかせ)」.

Related Words

Compare: 院卒(いんそつ) (graduate school graduate)

Compare: 学士(がくし) (bachelor's degree)

Related: 修士(しゅうし) (master's degree)

general

Added 2026.1.12 20:22 · Revised 2026.10.10 9:36

03500/03551_hakase