Where does “先生” come from?
先生 (Middle Chinese) comes from Middle Chinese 生 — born.
先生 (Middle Chinese): master, elder
Definitions
- master, elder
Ancestry of “先生”, step by step
先生 traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle Chinese 生
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Chinese | 生 | born |
via Middle Chinese 先
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle Chinese | 先 | first, former; earlier, first |