Shifu, also written as sifu is a Chinese language word meaning master or teacher and is used as a term of respect.
In China, the word Shifu is used for people who are very good at cooking, driving, acting or drawing. It’s also tradition for an apprentice to call his master “Shifu”. The title is also used for Buddhist monks and Taoist priests but not for doctors and lawyers.
In Chinese martial arts like kung fu, the teacher is usually called Shifu.