How to Say "Junior" in Japanese

後輩

kōhai[ko̞ːha̠i]

The Japanese word for junior is 後輩 (kōhai).

後輩 is used to describe a person who entered a school, club or company after you. It refers to a junior within a specific social hierarchy.

Meaning: younger (adj)

What does it mean word for word?

The word 後輩 is composed of 後 (after/later) and 輩 (group/comrade), literally meaning someone who follows after in a group.

kōhai

In Japanese company culture, your 'kōhai' status is often determined by the year you entered the company rather than your actual biological age.
While 後輩 (kōhai) describes a junior, you would almost never call someone 'my kōhai' to their face. Instead, you would use their name followed by a suffix like '-san' to remain polite and avoid sounding condescending.
The word 後輩 can be traced back to a text from 827 CE, meaning the concept of a junior following a senior has been linguistically solidified for over 1,200 years.

彼女は私の後輩です。
Kanojo wa watashi no kouhai desu.
She is my junior.
後輩と一緒にランチを食べます。
Kouhai to issho ni ranchi o tabemasu.
I eat lunch with my junior.
彼はとても優しい後輩です。
Kare wa totemo yasashii kouhai desu.
He is a very kind junior.

Yui and Hiroto are talking about their school club at a cafe.

結衣 Yui

大翔さんは部活の後輩はいますか？
Hiroto-san wa bukatsu no kouhai wa imasu ka?
Hiroto, do you have any juniors in your club?
大翔 Hiroto

はい、後輩が二人います。
Hai, kouhai ga futari imasu.
Yes, I have two juniors.
結衣 Yui

仲が良いんですか？
Naka ga ii n desu ka?
Are you close with them?
大翔 Hiroto

ええ、とても賑やかで楽しいですよ。
Ee, totemo nigiyaka de tanoshii desu yo.
Yes, they are very lively and fun.

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