senpai

English

Alternative forms

• sempai

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 先輩 (senpai). Doublet of sunbae.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛmpaɪ/, /ˈsɛnpaɪ/, [ˈsɛmpaɪ̯], [ˈsɛnpaɪ̯]

Noun

senpai (plural senpais or senpai)

1. The senior member of a group in Japanese arts; a mentor.
   • 1974, Thomas P. Rohlen, For Harmony and Strength: Japanese White-Collar Organization in Anthropological Perspective, University of California Press, →ISBN, page 131:

     Senpai are also known to intercede on behalf of their kohai to explain their mistakes.

   • 2022, Marc Helmold, Ayşe Küçük Yılmaz, Triant Flouris, Thomas Winner, Violeta Cvetkoska, Tracy Dathe, Lean Management, Kaizen, Kata and Keiretsu: Best-Practice Examples and Industry Insights from Japanese Concepts, Springer, →ISBN, page 57:

     They usually act as a mentor for kōhai, although in reality not all senpai are as generous or genuine about mentoring junior colleagues.

   • 2022, Alex W. Tong, The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts: Exploring the Connections Between the Cognitive, Physical, and Spiritual Aspects of Martial Arts, Blue Snake Books, →ISBN, page 203:

     Many senpai attend the same dōjō for decades.

2. (anime and manga, fandom slang) An upperclassman or elder student.

Usage notes

• Use in English may carry humorous or affectionate connotations. This is possibly due to (assumed) reference to modern Japanese media, or possibly a lexical gap.

Antonyms

• kohai

Anagrams

• Espina, Pesina, Sapien, paines, sapien, spinae

Japanese

Romanization

senpai

1. Rōmaji transcription of せんぱい