tiền bối

Vietnamese

Etymology

Sino-Vietnamese word from 前輩, composed of 前 (“fore-”) and 輩 (“generation”). Compare Japanese 先輩 (senpai, tiên bối).

Pronunciation

• (Hà Nội) IPA^(key): [tiən˨˩ ʔɓoj˧˦]
• (Huế) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˦˩ ʔɓoj˨˩˦]
• (Saigon) IPA^(key): [tiəŋ˨˩ ʔɓoj˦˥]

Noun

tiền bối

1. the older generations, especially as considered as wise or pioneering in thought, philosophy or ways of life

   các bậc tiền bối ― the wise older generations

2. (fiction, especially translations from Japanese or Korean) an upperclassman; a senpai

Antonyms

• hậu bối (“younger generations; underclassman”)