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HSK 4

硕士

master's degree; master's student

nounneutral
硕
shuò4th tone
士
shì4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
shuòshì
Part of speech
noun
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
14
Register
neutral
Measure word
个 / 位

Stroke order for 硕士

硕士 is written with 14 strokes (硕: 11, 士: 3). The animation replays automatically.

What does 硕士 mean?

硕士 (shuòshì) is a noun meaning 'master's degree,' and by extension the person who holds or is pursuing one.

It sits in the middle of the Chinese academic ladder — 学士 (bachelor's) below it, 博士 (doctorate) above it. Unlike English, where 'master' and 'master's degree' are separate words, 硕士 covers both the qualification and the graduate: 他是硕士 means 'he has a master's degree,' while 读硕士 means 'to study for a master's.' The word is neutral in register and used the same way in speech and writing.

English speakers should note it never means 'master' in the sense of an expert, boss, or owner — that is 大师 or 主人. To name the field, add it after: 文学硕士 (Master of Arts), 工程硕士 (Master of Engineering).

Note: Standard in academic, professional, and everyday contexts alike. On résumés and official forms it appears as 硕士学历 or 硕士学位 to specify the qualification versus the degree.

Character by character

硕shuòlarge; eminent
+
士shìscholar; person of learning
=
硕士

Memory hook: A 'large scholar' (硕 + 士) — bigger than a bachelor, one step below a doctor.

Example sentences

我姐姐是英语硕士。

Wǒ jiějie shì Yīngyǔ shuòshì.

My older sister has a master's in English.

neutral

他打算毕业以后去美国读硕士。

Tā dǎsuàn bìyè yǐhòu qù Měiguó dú shuòshì.

He plans to go to the US for a master's after graduating.

spoken

这个工作要求硕士学位。

Zhège gōngzuò yāoqiú shuòshì xuéwèi.

This job requires a master's degree.

written

她今年考上了硕士研究生。

Tā jīnnián kǎoshàng le shuòshì yánjiūshēng.

She got into a master's program this year.

neutral

Common phrases with 硕士

读硕士dú shuòshìto study for a master's
硕士学位shuòshì xuéwèimaster's degree (the degree itself)
硕士研究生shuòshì yánjiūshēngmaster's graduate student
考硕士kǎo shuòshìto take the exam for a master's program

Don't confuse 硕士 with

博士bóshì

博士 is a doctorate (PhD), one level above 硕士. Mixing them up is a common learner slip — 硕士 is the master's, 博士 the doctor's.

学士xuéshì

学士 is a bachelor's degree, one level below 硕士. Both share the character 士; the first character marks the rank.

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