sifu

Cantonese for "teacher." Used in kung fu schools (Mo Goon) of the Northern Eagle Claw style, and others, as a sign of respect.

Sifu is also used by at least one Shaolin monk I've met. Sifu may be pronounced in a number of different ways, depending on the dialect. I pronounce it "sure foo", owing to my brief experience with Mandarin, where the word for 'teacher' is pinynized as 'shi' and pronounced "sure". Most people in my school, including usually my sifu, pronounce it "see foo". My sifu has also heard it pronounced something like "sih-fwah".