赛先生

賽先生

Sàixiānsheng

popculture

Meanings

1 'Mr. Science' — personification of science promoted during the May Fourth Movement (1919)
2 abbreviated transliteration of 'science' (赛因斯)

Characters

(transliteration: sci-)

born; mister (in 先生)

Examples

五四运动提倡德先生和赛先生。

Wǔsì yùndòng tíchàng Dé xiānsheng hé Sài xiānsheng.

The May Fourth Movement championed Mr. Democracy and Mr. Science.

中国知识分子在二十世纪初迎接赛先生进入中国。

Zhōngguó zhīshi fènzǐ zài èrshí shìjì chū yíngjiē Sài xiānsheng jìnrù Zhōngguó.

Chinese intellectuals in the early 20th century welcomed Mr. Science into China.

Tips

history

Coined by Chen Duxiu (陈独秀) in 《新青年》 magazine, paired with 德先生 (Dé xiānsheng, 'Mr. Democracy', from 'democracy' → 德谟克拉西). Together they became the slogan of the New Culture and May Fourth movements, calling for science and democracy to replace Confucian tradition.

culture

Still cited in modern Chinese discourse whenever debates about science, modernity, or Enlightenment values surface — often invoked alongside 'Mr. Democracy' as a shorthand for early-20th-century reformist ideals.

Stroke Order

赛 sài

先 xiān

生 shēng