师长 shīzhǎng military division level commander
military division level commander; teacher
How to remember 师长: 师 teacher + 长 long = military division level commander.
Characters
How it is used
- Two distinct senses: a respectful term for teachers/elders, and a military division commander - 尊敬师长 (zūnjìng shīzhǎng) respect one's teachers and elders; 那位师长指挥作战 the division commander directed the battle.
- The 'teacher/elder' sense is formal and often collective (老师和长辈); the military sense is a specific rank (commander of a 师, division).
- Context disambiguates. 长 reads zhǎng (leader), not cháng, despite the char gloss.