後輩
kōhai[ko̞ːha̠i]
The Japanese word for underclassmen is 後輩 (kōhai).
後輩 refers to students who are in a lower grade or year than another student at the same school. Beyond the classroom, this term is also used in professional settings to describe a junior colleague or someone who joined a company after you.
Which one should you use?
後輩 is the direct counterpart to 先輩 (senpai), which refers to an upperclassman or someone of a higher grade.
How do you pronounce it?
kōhai
When do people say it?
The relationship between a senpai and a 後輩 often involves a social hierarchy where the 後輩 is expected to show respect to the senpai.
Did you know?
- A person can be a 後輩 to someone even if they are older in age, provided the other person entered the school or company first.
- While a 後輩 is expected to show respect to a 先輩, the 先輩 is often expected to mentor, protect and pay for the 後輩's meals or drinks as part of their social duty.
- The word 後輩 is a doublet of the archaic word フベ, meaning 'class' or 'cohort'. This reveals that the concept of being 'behind' someone is linguistically linked to the very idea of belonging to the same group.
Examples in context
- 今年、たくさんの後輩が入ってきました。Many underclassmen joined this year.
- 下級生は新鮮な視点を持っていますね。Underclassmen have fresh perspectives, don't they?
- 彼はテニス部の後輩です。Kare wa tenisu-bu no kouhai desu.He is my underclassman in the tennis club.
- 後輩と一緒に勉強しました。Kouhai to issho ni benkyou shimashita.I studied with my underclassmen.
- 後輩にアドバイスをしました。Kouhai ni adobaisu o shimashita.I gave some advice to my underclassman.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki are talking about their school club.
- 美咲 Misaki後輩たちはもう来ましたか？Kōhai-tachi wa mō kimashita ka?Have the underclassmen arrived yet?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、みんな外で待っています。Hai, minna soto de matte imasu.Yes, everyone is waiting outside.
- 美咲 Misaki早速挨拶しましょう。Sassoku aisatsu shimashō.Let's go greet them right away.
- 陽太 Yotaそうですね。行きましょう。Sō desu ne. Ikimashō.You're right. Let's go.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 後輩, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 後輩, CC BY-SA 4.0.
