英和和英

語源

Borrowed from Japanese 先(せん)輩(ぱい) (senpai). Doublet of sunbae.

発音

• (英国発音, 米国発音) IPA^(key): /ˈsɛnpaɪ/, /ˈsɛmpaɪ/, [ˈsɛnpaɪ̯], [ˈsɛmpaɪ̯]

名詞

senpai (複数形 senpais または 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.

使用する際の注意点

• 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.

反意語

• kohai

アナグラム

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