师父 (shī fu) is a respectful term meaning 'master' or 'teacher', especially in traditional contexts like martial arts, Buddhism, Taoism, or craft apprenticeships. Literally, 师 (shī) means 'teacher' or 'expert', and 父 (fù) means 'father' — together they convey deep respect and a quasi-familial bond, implying the master guides, nurtures, and disciplines the student as a parent would. Unlike the more general 老师 (lǎo shī), which refers to schoolteachers or instructors in modern settings, 师父 carries strong connotations of lineage, devotion, and long-term mentorship.

The term is used both as a direct form of address ('Master!') and as a title before a name (e.g., 李师父, Lǐ Shīfu). It reflects Confucian values of reverence for elders and teachers, and remains common in traditional arts, religious communities, and skilled trades such as cooking or carpentry. While historically gendered (typically addressing male masters), it’s increasingly used respectfully for accomplished female practitioners too, though 师母 (shī mǔ) may refer to the master’s wife.