先輩
senpai[sẽ̞mpa̠i]
The English word "senior" can be translated into Japanese as 先輩 (senpai), which is the default form.
先輩 is used to refer to someone who is more experienced or of higher status than oneself.
Meaning: older (adj)
Which one should you use?
Use 年上 when you want to specify that someone is older in terms of chronological age, whereas 先輩 emphasizes their higher status or experience in a group. While 先輩 refers to a senior, 後輩 is the term used for a junior or someone with less experience in the same hierarchy.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions of Japan, the term おっちゃん is used as a friendly and informal way to address an older man or someone senior.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
senpai
Did you know?
- While 'senior' in English often implies someone older, a person can be your 先輩 even if they are younger than you, provided they entered the organization before you did.
- In Japanese schools and workplaces, a 先輩 is often expected to pay for the meals or drinks of their 後輩 as a gesture of mentorship.
- The term 先輩 is rooted in Middle Chinese 先輩, making it a loanword from an ancient form of the language.
Examples in context
- 田中さんは大学時代のフェンシング部の先輩です。Mx. Tanaka is a senior from the fencing club during my college days.This sentence is useful for identifying a senior from a specific club during college using 先輩.Tatoeba #2280719 by tommy_san, translation #12589062 by urro
- 「あ、は、はい・・・ごめん、玲姉」「コラ。幾ら親戚とはいえ、私は先輩医師よ？院内ではちゃんとケジメをつけなさい」"Ah, y-yes … Sorry, Coz." "Hey! You might be my relative but here I'm your senior and a doctor. Keep things straight while you're in the hospital!"This sentence illustrates the use of 先輩 to denote a person of higher professional status in a hospital setting.Tatoeba #74923 by fcbond, translation #328797 by fcbond
- 彼はテニス部の先輩です。Kare wa tenisu-bu no senpai desu.He is a senior in the tennis club.
Example conversation
Yui and Daito are talking about a coworker.
- 結衣 Yui大翔さんは、仕事のやり方を教えてくれた先輩ですね。Daito-san wa, shigoto no yarikata o oshiete kureta senpai desu ne.Daito, you are the senior who taught me how to do the job, right?
- 大翔 Hirotoええ。結衣さんは覚えるのが本当に早いです。Ee. Yui-san wa oboeru no ga hontou ni hayai desu.Yes. Yui, you are really quick at learning.
- 結衣 Yuiありがとうございます。やっぱり先輩は頼りになります。Arigatou gozaimasu. Yappari senpai wa tayori ni narimasu.Thank you. As expected, my senior is very reliable.
- 大翔 Hirotoそんなに褒められると照れますね。Sonna ni homerareru to teremasu ne.I'm blushing because you're praising me so much.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 先輩, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 先輩, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
