師 匠(ししょう)

ししょう

noun

master, teacher (of an art or craft)

1. master, teacher, mentor (of a traditional art, craft, or skill)

A person who teaches and guides a student in a traditional art, craft, or discipline. Implies a deep, often long-term master-apprentice relationship.

師匠(ししょう)に弟子入(でしい)りする。

To become an apprentice to a master.

落語(らくご)の師匠(ししょう)のもとで修業(しゅぎょう)した。

I trained under a rakugo master.

師匠(ししょう)から教(おそ)わった技(わざ)を大切(たいせつ)にしながら、自分(じぶん)なりの表現(ひょうげん)を追求(ついきゅう)している。

While cherishing the techniques learned from my master, I am pursuing my own form of expression.

Common patterns

師(し) (teacher, master) + 匠(しょう) (artisan, skilled worker).

Usage

師匠(ししょう) is used in traditional arts such as 落語(らくご) (comic storytelling), 茶道(さどう) (tea ceremony), 花道(かどう) (flower arrangement), 書道(しょどう) (calligraphy), martial arts, and traditional music. The relationship between 師匠(ししょう) and 弟子(でし) (apprentice/disciple) is central to the transmission of traditional skills in Japan. Compare with 先生(せんせい), which is a more general and widely applicable term for teacher.

Common collocations

師匠(ししょう)に弟子入(でしい)りする: to become someone's apprentice
師匠(ししょう)と弟子(でし): master and apprentice
師匠(ししょう)の教(おし)え: the master's teachings
師匠(ししょう)筋(すじ): lineage of masters

Related Words

Antonym: 弟子(でし) (disciple, apprentice)

Synonym: 先生(せんせい) (teacher (general))

Homophone: 支障(ししょう) (hindrance, obstacle)

Compare: 師弟(してい) (master and disciple)

general

Added 2026.2.21 15:12 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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