zi3 sing3 sin1 si1至聖先師至圣先师
Jyutpingzi3 sing3 sin1 si1
Yaleji sing sīn sī
Definition
The Greatest Sage and Teacher; an honorific title for Confucius.
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How it's used
This title is exclusively reserved for Confucius in Chinese culture. It carries a high level of reverence and is typically used in formal or educational contexts rather than casual conversation. You will often see it referenced during traditional ceremonies or when discussing the history of Chinese philosophy.
Examples
Today is the birthday of the greatest sage and teacher.
Related words
Common mistake
Avoid using this title for any teacher other than Confucius, as it would sound highly inappropriate or sarcastic. It is a specific honorific rather than a general term for a great educator.
Grammar color guide
Noun
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Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).



