Meaning
硕士 refers to both a master's degree and a person who holds one. It is the standard academic degree between a bachelor's (学士) and a doctorate (博士). In Chinese academic contexts, it typically requires 2-3 years of graduate study after completing undergraduate education.
Usage
This word is commonly used in educational and professional contexts. Native speakers often combine it with specific fields (如硕士学位 for 'master's degree' or 硕士研究生 for 'master's student'). It appears frequently on resumes, in academic discussions, and when discussing educational qualifications.
Examples
- 01她正在北京大学攻读法律硕士学位。.She is pursuing a master's degree in law at Peking University.
- 02我们公司要求应聘者至少要有硕士学位。.Our company requires applicants to have at least a master's degree.
Characters
Measure words
- 个三个硕士
- 名两名硕士
Common collocations
- 硕士学位master's degree
- 硕士研究生master's student
- 攻读硕士to pursue a master's degree
- 硕士毕业to graduate with a master's degree
Origin
硕 originally means 'large' or 'eminent', while 士 refers to a scholar or learned person. Together, 硕士 literally means 'great scholar', reflecting the elevated academic status of a master's degree holder.