How to say "elder" in Japanese

• 先輩せんぱいJLPT N4approx.Common
  noun, suffixCovers an elder in the sense of a senior or superior at school, work, or a similar group. This is the everyday word for an older colleague or upperclassman, not for a village or tribal elder.
  私わたしたちは彼かれをよき先輩せんぱいとして尊敬そんけいしている。↗

  We respect him as a good senior.
• 長老ちょうろうCommon
  no-adjectiveThe standard choice for an elder as a respected senior figure, such as the elder of a community, church, or council. It conveys age combined with authority and standing.
  彼かれはもちろん村むらの最さい長老ちょうろうだ。↗

  He is unquestionably the oldest man in the village.
• 古老ころうCommon
  nounAn elder or elderly person known for knowledge of events of the distant past; it emphasizes long memory of old times rather than authority. Suits stories or discussions of local history.
• 長ちょうCommon
  nounFor 'elder' this is marginal: the word chiefly means head, chief, or leader. It is seldom the word you want for 'elder' itself, and is normally better translated by those other senses.
  チームの長ちょうとして私は彼かれに有能ゆうのうな助力じょりょくを得えた。↗

  As head of the team I was ably assisted by him.
• 先進せんしんCommon
  nounAlso marginal as 'elder': it really denotes seniority or being senior or superior, and usually modifies other nouns. It is rarely the natural way to refer to an elder person.

Use 先輩 for someone senior at school or work, 長老 or 古老 for respected elderly members of a community, and note that 長 and 先進 are usually better rendered by their other senses.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 先輩せんぱいsenior (at school, work, etc.)
• 長老ちょうろうelder
• 古老ころうold person (knowledgeable about events of the distant past)
• 長ちょうhead
• エルダーelder
• 丈人じょうじんelder
• 上長じょうちょうone's superior
• 年長者ねんちょうしゃsenior
• ぱいせんsenior (at work or school)
• 老ろうold age
• 父老ふろう(village) elder
• 先進せんしんseniority
• 上うえelder