noun
senpai
SEHN-peye
Senpai (noun) means In Japanese culture, a more senior or experienced person in a school, workplace, or art form, who acts as a kind of mentor to those below them. Example: “As a first-year student, she looked up to her senpai for advice.”
noun
1
In Japanese culture, a more senior or experienced person in a school, workplace, or art form, who acts as a kind of mentor to those below them.
"As a first-year student, she looked up to her senpai for advice."
How to use senpai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA senior person or mentor figure, a term borrowed from Japanese.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with sensei — a sensei is specifically a teacher or instructor, while a senpai is just someone more experienced or senior than you.
Easily confused with
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like senpai.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- senpais
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
As a first-year student, she looked up to her _____ for advice.
Etymology
Borrowed from Japanese senpai.
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for senpai
See all rhymes for senpai →Frequently asked questions
What does “senpai” mean?
The word “senpai” means in Japanese culture, a more senior or experienced person in a school, workplace, or art form, who acts as a kind of mentor to those below them. In plain terms, a senior person or mentor figure, a term borrowed from Japanese.
How do you pronounce “senpai”?
“Senpai” is pronounced SEHN-peye (/ˈsɛnpaɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “senpai” in a sentence?
Here is “senpai” used in a sentence: “As a first-year student, she looked up to her senpai for advice.”
What is the opposite of “senpai”?
The opposite of “senpai” — its antonyms — is kohai.
What part of speech is “senpai”?
“Senpai” is a noun.
Where does the word “senpai” come from?
The word “senpai” comes from Japanese. Borrowed from Japanese senpai.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include senpai:
