jiàoshòu: 教授 - Professor, to Teach

• Keywords: jiaoshou, 教授, Chinese for professor, how to say professor in Chinese, Chinese academic titles, what does jiaoshou mean, teach in Chinese, Chinese teacher, university professor in China, laoshi vs jiaoshou
• Summary: Learn the Chinese word 教授 (jiàoshòu), the formal title for a “professor” at a university. This entry breaks down its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use. Discover why calling a university instructor 教授 (jiàoshòu) is a sign of great respect, and understand the crucial difference between this specific title and the more general term for teacher, `老师 (lǎoshī)`.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàoshòu
• Part of Speech: Noun, Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: (Noun) A university professor; (Verb) To instruct or teach a subject, typically in a formal, academic setting.
• In a Nutshell: 教授 (jiàoshòu) is the Chinese equivalent of a “Full Professor” in the Western academic system. It's not just a job; it's the highest academic rank and a title of great prestige. As a verb, it’s a formal way to say “to teach,” used when discussing academic instruction rather than casual teaching.

• 教 (jiào): To teach or instruct. This character is composed of 孝 (xiào - filial piety) and 攵 (a variant of 攴 pū - to tap, to rap), suggesting the act of respectfully passing down knowledge and values from one generation to the next.
• 授 (shòu): To award, to give, to confer. This character combines the “hand” radical 扌(shǒu) with 受 (shòu - to receive). The imagery is of one hand giving knowledge to another, emphasizing the transmission or conferring of expertise.
• Together, 教授 (jiàoshòu) literally means “to confer teaching,” which perfectly captures the formal, high-level nature of a professor's role: one who has been recognized and authorized to bestow knowledge upon others.

In Chinese culture, which is deeply influenced by Confucian values, educators are held in extremely high regard. The saying “一日为师，终身为父 (yī rì wéi shī, zhōng shēn wéi fù)” means “A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime,” illustrating the profound respect and lifelong bond expected between a student and teacher. The title 教授 (jiàoshòu) sits at the apex of this cultural respect. It is not used as casually as “professor” can be in the West. In the United States, it's common to call any college-level instructor “Professor.” In China, 教授 (jiàoshòu) is a specific, earned rank, equivalent to a “Full Professor.” Other ranks include 副教授 (fù jiàoshòu) (Associate Professor) and 讲师 (jiǎngshī) (Lecturer). Using the title 教授 correctly is a sign of cultural awareness and respect. Addressing a professor by their surname followed by the title (e.g., 王教授, Wáng Jiàoshòu) is the standard, formal way to show deference. When in doubt, it is always safe to use the more general and universally respectful title 老师 (lǎoshī) for any educator.

• As a Formal Title: This is the most common usage. It's used in introductions, when addressing a professor directly in person or in writing, and when referring to them in conversation. It immediately establishes a tone of respect.
  • Example: “This is Professor Zhang from Peking University.” (这是北京大学的张教授。)
• As a Formal Verb: Using 教授 as a verb is less common in daily conversation but standard in formal and written contexts. You'll see it in university course catalogs, academic papers, or when someone is formally describing their professional duties. It implies teaching a specialized, academic subject.
  • Example: “He teaches modern Chinese literature.” (他教授中国现当代文学。)
  • For everyday “teaching,” like teaching a friend to drive, you would use the more common verb 教 (jiāo).
• Connotation: The term is exclusively positive and carries a heavy weight of respect, authority, and intellectual achievement. There is no informal or negative connotation associated with it.

• Example 1:
  • 王教授，您好！很高兴见到您。
  • Pinyin: Wáng jiàoshòu, nín hǎo! Hěn gāoxìng jiàn dào nín.
  • English: Professor Wang, hello! It's a pleasure to meet you.
  • Analysis: This shows the standard formal greeting for a professor, using their surname followed by the title and the respectful pronoun `您 (nín)`.
• Example 2:
  • 我的父亲是一位大学教授。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de fùqīn shì yī wèi dàxué jiàoshòu.
  • English: My father is a university professor.
  • Analysis: A straightforward sentence describing someone's profession. Note the use of the formal measure word for people, `位 (wèi)`, which adds to the respectful tone.
• Example 3:
  • 李教授在这所大学教授经济学。
  • Pinyin: Lǐ jiàoshòu zài zhè suǒ dàxué jiàoshòu jīngjìxué.
  • English: Professor Li teaches economics at this university.
  • Analysis: This example cleverly uses 教授 as both a noun (the title) and a verb (to teach). This is grammatically correct but more common in formal writing than speech.
• Example 4:
  • 她是历史系最年轻的教授。
  • Pinyin: Tā shì lìshǐ xì zuì niánqīng de jiàoshòu.
  • English: She is the youngest professor in the history department.
  • Analysis: Used to describe a person's rank and achievement within an academic context.
• Example 5:
  • 我希望将来能成为一名受人尊敬的教授。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xīwàng jiānglái néng chéngwéi yī míng shòu rén zūnjìng de jiàoshòu.
  • English: I hope to become a respected professor in the future.
  • Analysis: This highlights the aspirational nature of the title. It's a goal that signifies success and respect.
• Example 6:
  • 这门课是由一位非常有名的教授讲授的。
  • Pinyin: Zhè mén kè shì yóu yī wèi fēicháng yǒu míng de jiàoshòu jiǎngshòu de.
  • English: This course is taught by a very famous professor.
  • Analysis: Here, the verb is `讲授 (jiǎngshòu)`, which is very similar to `教授` (the verb). It means “to lecture” or “to instruct.” `教授` is the person doing the teaching.
• Example 7:
  • 你认识那位教授吗？他好像是新来的。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ rènshi nà wèi jiàoshòu ma? Tā hǎoxiàng shì xīn lái de.
  • English: Do you know that professor? It seems he's new here.
  • Analysis: A simple, conversational question used to identify someone by their professional title.
• Example 8:
  • 学校今年新聘请了五位客座教授。
  • Pinyin: Xuéxiào jīnnián xīn pìnqǐng le wǔ wèi kèzuò jiàoshòu.
  • English: The university hired five new visiting professors this year.
  • Analysis: Shows how 教授 can be combined with other words, like `客座 (kèzuò)` for “visiting” or “guest.”
• Example 9:
  • 作为一名教授，他发表了很多重要的学术论文。
  • Pinyin: Zuòwéi yī míng jiàoshòu, tā fābiǎo le hěn duō zhòngyào de xuéshù lùnwén.
  • English: As a professor, he has published many important academic papers.
  • Analysis: This sentence connects the title 教授 with the responsibilities and accomplishments expected of the role.
• Example 10:
  • 虽然他是副教授，但我们都习惯叫他王教授。
  • Pinyin: Suīrán tā shì fù jiàoshòu, dàn wǒmen dōu xíguàn jiào tā Wáng jiàoshòu.
  • English: Although he is an associate professor, we are all used to calling him Professor Wang.
  • Analysis: This reveals a common social nuance. While technically incorrect, people might use 教授 as a sign of respect or flattery for an associate professor, especially if they are well-regarded.

• Mistake: Calling every university teacher `教授`
  • A very common mistake for learners is to assume 教授 is a direct translation of the general English “Professor.” It is not. It is a specific, high-level rank.
  • Incorrect: Pointing to a teaching assistant or lecturer and calling them `张教授 (Zhāng Jiàoshòu)`.
  • Why it's wrong: It's factually incorrect and can be awkward. While likely taken as flattery, it shows a lack of cultural understanding.
  • Correction: When in doubt, always default to the universally safe and respectful term 老师 (lǎoshī). You can never go wrong calling an educator `老师`.
• Mistake: Using `教授` (verb) for casual teaching.
  • The verb `教授` is reserved for formal, academic instruction. Using it for everyday teaching sounds overly stilted and strange.
  • Incorrect: 我教授我弟弟怎么用筷子。(Wǒ jiàoshòu wǒ dìdi zěnme yòng kuàizi.)
  • Why it's wrong: This is like saying “I shall henceforth instruct my younger brother in the art of chopsticks.” It's far too formal.
  • Correction: Use the common verb 教 (jiāo). 我教我弟弟怎么用筷子。(Wǒ jiāo wǒ dìdi zěnme yòng kuàizi.) - “I'm teaching my little brother how to use chopsticks.”

• 老师 (lǎoshī) - The general term for “teacher.” It is always a safe and respectful title for any educator, from kindergarten to university.
• 副教授 (fù jiàoshòu) - Associate Professor. The academic rank directly below a full professor. The `副 (fù)` means “deputy” or “vice.”
• 讲师 (jiǎngshī) - Lecturer. An academic rank typically below an associate professor.
• 博士 (bóshì) - Ph.D.; Doctor. An academic degree. A person can be a `博士` and also a `教授`. One is a degree, the other is a job title/rank.
• 学者 (xuézhě) - Scholar. A broader term for a learned person or academic, not tied to a specific teaching rank.
• 教 (jiāo) - The common verb “to teach.” It's the default verb for teaching in most situations.
• 教育 (jiàoyù) - Education. The noun for the concept or field of education.
• 大学 (dàxué) - University. The institution where a `教授` typically works.
• 导师 (dǎoshī) - Tutor; Advisor; Mentor. Specifically, a supervisor for a graduate or doctoral student. This person is often, but not always, a `教授`.