Meaning and Usage
"博士" (はかせ) primarily refers to a person who has earned a doctoral degree (PhD) or the degree itself. It is commonly used in academic and professional contexts to denote expertise and advanced study.
Common Contexts
You will often see "博士" used when talking about someone's academic qualifications, such as "博士号" (doctoral degree). It can also be used as a respectful title for someone with a doctorate, especially in scientific or medical fields.
Collocations and Patterns
- 博士号 (はくしごう): doctoral degree
- 博士課程 (はくしかてい): doctoral program
- 博士に相談する: to consult a doctor (PhD holder)
Register and Politeness
"博士" is a formal term and is appropriate in academic, professional, and formal conversations. It is not typically used in casual speech unless referring to someone's title or degree.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "博士" with medical doctors (医者). While "博士" refers to the academic title, "医者" is used for medical doctors. Be careful to use "博士" when referring to academic qualifications and "医者" for medical professionals.