Japanese · Family & People
先生
sensei
Teacher / Doctor / Master
Beginnernoun
Definition
Used to address teachers, doctors, lawyers, and other respected professionals. Literally means "one who has gone before."
Example
先生は毎日熱心に教えています。
The teacher teaches enthusiastically every day.
Etymology
先生 (sensei) is composed of the characters 先 (sen), meaning 'before' or 'previous', and 生 (sei), meaning 'birth' or 'life'. It historically refers to someone who has experienced life before their students.
How & Where It’s Used
Sensei is a formal term, predominantly used in educational contexts to address teachers, mentors, or professionals. It's common in both spoken and written formats.
Literary Heritage
It is often used in various forms of literature, including anime, manga, and traditional texts, to denote educators.