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kouhai
What does kouhai mean?
A junior colleague, younger student or less experienced member, expected to defer to their senpai. A common variant spelling reflecting the long vowel.
"Mentoring the new kouhai is part of being a good senpai."
Origin
Japanese 後輩 (kōhai), 'later colleague'; the 'ou' spelling marks the long ō.
Frequently asked questions
What does kouhai mean?
A kouhai is a junior colleague, younger student, or less experienced member of a group, who is generally expected to defer to their senpai (senior).
How is kouhai different from senpai?
Senpai is the senior or more experienced person, while kouhai is the junior. The two form a mentoring pair common in Japanese schools and workplaces.
Why is kouhai spelled with 'ou'?
The 'ou' spelling reflects the long vowel in the Japanese 後輩 (kōhai); 'kohai' and 'kōhai' are the same word written differently.
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