Real-Life Chinese Phrase
师傅
master worker; driver; respectful address for a skilled person
When to use it
Use 师傅 to address taxi drivers, ride-hailing drivers, delivery workers, repair workers, or other skilled service people.
Tone and culture
Respectful, warm, and practical. It is not too formal. In a taxi, 师傅 is often more natural than 先生 or 司机.
Real examples
- 师傅，麻烦靠边停。 Shīfu, máfan kàobiān tíng. Driver, please pull over by the side.
- 师傅，到地铁站多少钱？ Shīfu, dào dìtiězhàn duōshao qián? Driver, how much to the subway station?
- 谢谢师傅。 Xièxie shīfu. Thank you, driver.
- 师傅，这里可以停车吗？ Shīfu, zhèlǐ kěyǐ tíngchē ma? Driver, can you stop here?
Pronunciation
Use the ChineseGoGo Context Dictionary audio button to hear this phrase and compare it with the examples.
Mini dialogue
乘客师傅，前面靠边停。Driver, please pull over ahead.
司机好，就在路口可以吗？Okay. Is the intersection fine?
乘客可以，谢谢。Yes, thank you.
Common mistakes and close phrases
| 师傅 | natural address for drivers and skilled workers |
|---|---|
| 司机 | driver; job title, less personal as direct address |
| 老师 | teacher; not for taxi drivers unless they are actually a teacher |
Learn it in context
Start from the phrase, then study the scene, save useful expressions, and review them later.