先輩
senpai[sẽ̞mpa̠i]
senpai is the Japanese word for an upperclassman or an elder student.
The term is used to denote someone with more experience or higher seniority in a school, club or workplace setting. It is the antonym of kouhai, which refers to a junior or someone with less experience.
Meaning: upperclassman or elder student, in the context of Japan (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a title for a specific person, senpai is often appended directly to a person's surname.
How do you pronounce it?
senpai
Did you know?
- While it is a standard honorific, the term has become a global internet meme, often used in anime communities to describe an idealized or unattainable crush.
- In Japanese workplaces, a senpai is not necessarily someone older in age, but simply someone who started at the company earlier. A twenty-five-year-old can be the senpai to a thirty-year-old new hire.
- The word 先輩 is derived from Middle Chinese.
Examples in context
- 「先輩、お昼ご飯、奢ってください！」「いつもいつも集るな」「いいじゃないですかぁ。先輩、昨日、バイト代が入ったんでしょ？」「仕方ないな。何食べに行く？」"Senpai, please treat me to lunch!" "You should stop forever sponging off of me." "It's alright isn't it? Didn't you get payment from your part time job yesterday?" "I guess it can't be helped. What do you want to eat?"This example shows a conversation about a junior asking a 先輩 to treat them to lunch.Tatoeba #10603208 by small_snow, translation #10789543 by tsp_2
- 先輩、ソフトクリームおごってくれませんか。Senpai, would you buy me some soft ice cream?This example shows a person asking a 先輩 to buy them soft ice cream.Tatoeba #1331178 by Scott, translation #1331198 by Scott
- 先輩さん、遊びに行きませんか？Senpai, would you like to go out and have some fun?
- 田中さんは私の大学の先輩です。Tanaka-san wa watashi no daigaku no senpai desu.Mr. Tanaka is my upperclassman at university.
Example conversation
At a school club activity room.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔先輩、テニス部の練習はいつですか？Hiroto senpai, tenisu-bu no renshuu wa itsu desu ka?Hiroto-senpai, when is the tennis club practice?
- 大翔 Hiroto今日は午後からだよ、陽葵。Kyou wa gogo kara da yo, Himari.It's from this afternoon, Himari.
- 陽葵 Himariわかりました。準備しておきます！Wakarimashita. Junbi shite okimasu!Understood. I will get ready!
- 大翔 Hiroto助かるよ、よろしくね。Tasukaru yo, yoroshiku ne.That helps, thanks.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “senpai” translations and entries 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.
