Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 先生 | sensei | [sẽ̞ɰ̃se̞ː] (narrow) |
| 教師 | kyōshi | [kʲo̞ːɕi] (narrow) |
In Japanese, the term you use for a teacher depends on whether you are talking about the profession or addressing the person. 先生 (sensei) is a respectful title used for school teachers, professors and martial arts instructors. Because it is an honorific title, it is also used to show respect to doctors, lawyers, authors and other highly skilled professionals. 教師 (kyōshi) is a neutral noun used specifically to describe the occupation of being a teacher.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 先生 (sensei) literally means 'one who comes before', combining the concepts of 'before' (先) and 'life/birth' (生), implying someone who has lived or experienced more.
Which one should you use?
The main difference is between an honorific address and an occupational description. 先生 (sensei) is used as a title or a way to address a teacher directly. In contrast, 教師 (kyōshi) is a neutral noun used to state one's profession, such as saying 'I am a teacher', but it is almost never used to address a teacher directly.
How do you pronounce it?
sensei
What mistakes should you avoid?
Avoid using 教師 (kyōshi) to address a teacher in a classroom setting. Using it this way sounds overly clinical and impersonal. Use 先生 (sensei) instead.
Did you know?
- Manga artists are almost universally referred to as 先生 (sensei) by their editors and fans.
- In Japan, 先生 (sensei) is commonly used to address politicians and members of parliament, even though they are not educators.
- While 先生 (sensei) is a title of respect, using it to refer to yourself is generally considered arrogant and is avoided.
Examples in context
- 彼は教師です。He is a teacher.This sentence uses 教師 to describe someone's profession.Tatoeba #108340 by bunbuku, translation #295346 by CK
- 先生に頼もう。Let's ask the teacher.This sentence uses 先生 to refer to a teacher.Tatoeba #141738 by bunbuku, translation #272832 by CK
- 私も先生です。I am a teacher, too.This sentence uses 先生 to describe one's own role as a teacher.Tatoeba #152190 by small_snow, translation #262362 by CK
- 604 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are talking about their favorite school subject.
- 蓮 Ren数学の先生はとても優しいです。Suugaku no sensei wa totemo yasashii desu.The math teacher is very kind.
- 美咲 Misaki本当だね。私も大好きだよ。Hontou da ne. Watashi mo daisuki da yo.That's true. I love them too.
- 蓮 Ren美咲さんは誰が一番好き？Misaki-san wa dare ga ichiban suki?Who is your favorite, Misaki?
- 美咲 Misaki私は英語の先生が好きです。Watashi wa eigo no sensei ga suki desu.I like the English teacher.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “teacher” translations and entries 先生, 教師, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
