〜師(し)

し

suffix

practitioner, master (of a trade or skill)

1. practitioner, master (of a trade or skill)

Attaches to a skill or activity to name someone who practices or has mastered it — a doctor, teacher, fisherman, or craftsperson. Emphasizes skill and practice more than formal licensing.

医(い)師(し)になる。

I'm becoming a doctor.

漁(りょう)師(し)の仕事(しごと)は大変(たいへん)だ。

A fisherman's work is hard.

祖父(そふ)は地元(じもと)で知(し)られる木彫(きぼ)り師(し)だった。

My grandfather was a wood carver well known in his local area.

〜師(し) names a person by their trade or skill: 教(きょう)師(し) (teacher), 医(い)師(し) (doctor), 漁(りょう)師(し) (fisherman), and craft compounds like 木彫(きぼ)り師(し) (wood carver).

Similar words

〜士(し): a licensed or certified professional — 弁護(べんご)士(し) (lawyer), 会計(かいけい)士(し) (accountant). Carries a connotation of formal qualification that 師(し) does not require.
〜家(か): expertise or dedication in a field — often broader or more prestigious, as in 専門(せんもん)家(か) (specialist).
〜者(しゃ): a generic "person who does," with no implication of skill or training.

Related Words

Compare: 〜士(し) (licensed professional (suffix))

Compare: 〜家(か) (expert, specialist (suffix))

Compare: 〜者(しゃ) (person who does (suffix))

general

Added 2026.9.3 21:27 · Revised 2026.9.3 21:38

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