How to Say "Doctor" in Cantonese

醫生

ji1 sang1

The Cantonese word for doctor is 醫生 (ji1 sang1).

醫生 refers to a person who is qualified to treat people who are ill.

What does it mean word for word?

The word is composed of 醫 (ji1) meaning 'medical/to treat' and 生 (sang1) meaning 'person/life/born'.

ji1 sang1

In Cantonese, a doctor's office or clinic is often called a 診所 (zan2 so2), but the act of seeing a doctor is described as 睇醫生 (tai2 ji1 sang1), which literally means 'looking at the doctor'.
When referring to a doctor's specialized skill, Cantonese speakers might describe a doctor as having a 神手 (san4 sau2), which translates to 'godly hand'.
The character 生 in 醫生 is a respectful suffix. In old Cantonese culture, it was used for teachers and scholars before it became a standard part of the word for doctor.

我想要醫生。
I want a doctor.
Tatoeba #4534019 by kaenif, translation #2011303 by CK
醫生而家唔得閒。
The doctor is not available now.
Tatoeba #616213 by nickyeow, translation #272928 by CK
有病就睇醫生啦！
If you're sick, then go see the doctor!
Tatoeba #7853638 by nickyeow, translation #8770160 by cheeseisdisgusting
20 more sentences on Tatoeba

At a clinic, a woman is asking about her husband's appointment.

曉彤 Hiu Tung

醫生而家喺邊度？
ji1 sang1 ji4 gaai1 hai2 bin1 dou6?
Where is the doctor right now?
志強 Chi Keung

醫生仲喺診症室入面。
ji1 sang1 zung6 hai2 zan3 zing3 sat1 jap6 min6.
The doctor is still inside the consultation room.
曉彤 Hiu Tung

佢今日會唔會遲？
keoi5 gam1 jat6 wui5 m4 wui5 ci4?
Will he be late today?
志強 Chi Keung

唔會，佢好準時。
m4 wui5, keoi5 hou2 zeon2 si4.
No, he is very punctual.

Sources

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