Takeaway Chinese

From Shifu to "family": Why does Chinese use family terms for others? 为什么中文喜欢用亲属称谓称呼别人?

September 7, 2026·27 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

September 10 marks Teachers' Day in China. In this episode, we take a closer look at the traditional role of teachers in Chinese history, explore how the word "师父 (shī fu, master)" reflects the traditional idea of a teacher as a father figure, and look at how family terms are still commonly used to address people outside the family in Chinese society today. On the show: Fei Fei & Steve. (00:59) How teachers were addressed in the past and today. (10:00) How do Chinese people address each other?

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