师shī
Character evolution
师
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Simplified · Today
繁体
Traditional Chinese
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Shuowen
Teacher. In oracle bone script (甲骨文) from the Shang dynasty (c. 1200 BCE), 师 is a pictograph of a group of people (multiple “人”) with a mouth (口) above them, representing a teacher instructing a crowd. The original meaning is “teacher” or “master”, one who imparts knowledge, and by extension “army” as a body of trained men. The character is written this way because it depicts a teacher speaking to a group, the essential image of instruction and leadership.
Pinyin
shī· HSK 1