博士

はかせ

doctorate, PhD., doctor

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

"博士" primarily refers to the highest academic degree (PhD) or a university professor holding such a degree. It is used to denote someone who has completed advanced research and study in a specific field.

Common Contexts

You will often see "博士" used in academic or professional settings, such as when talking about someone's educational qualifications or their role as a university teacher.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 博士学位 (bóshì xuéwèi): PhD degree, used when referring to the academic qualification.
  • 博士研究生 (bóshì yánjiūshēng): doctoral student, someone pursuing a PhD.
  • 博士 (bóshì hòu): postdoctoral researcher, a position after earning a PhD.

Usage Notes

When referring to a person, "博士" can mean either the degree holder or the professor. Context usually clarifies which meaning is intended. Avoid confusing "博士" with "医生" (doctor in medicine), which is a different profession.

Character Insights

The character "" suggests broad knowledge or extensive learning, while "" implies a scholar or gentleman, together emphasizing a learned person.

Example Sentences

He just obtained a PhD degree in chemistry.

This doctor teaches computer science at the university.

He is a PhD in history, specializing in ancient Chinese culture.