How to say "instructor" in Japanese

• 先生せんせいJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounCovers teachers and instructors of all kinds, and doubles as the respectful way to address one; a driving, piano or karate instructor is usually addressed this way.
  われわれの先生せんせいは真しんの意味いみで紳士しんしです。↗

  Our teacher is a gentleman in the true sense of the word.
• 教師きょうしJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe word for teaching as an occupation, especially school teaching; it refers to the profession rather than serving as a form of address, so it is not what you call your own instructor.
  私の兄あには教師きょうしです。↗

  My older brother is a teacher.
• インストラクターCommon
  nounThe loanword for instructors in sports, fitness, driving and similar practical or leisure fields; this is the natural choice for a gym, ski or diving instructor.
  彼女かのじょは２０代だいにエアロビクスのインストラクターとして働はたらいていた。↗

  She worked as an aerobics instructor in her twenties.
• 師範しはんCommon
  nounAn instructor of martial or traditional arts, often with a nuance of senior mastery; for any other kind of instructor this is seldom the word you want.
• 教員きょういんJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounRefers to teachers as members of a school's teaching staff or faculty, as in staffing and employment contexts; it is an institutional term, not a way to address or describe your own instructor.
  お前まえは教員きょういんになる決心けっしんをしたのか。↗

  Have you made up your mind to become a teacher?

Choose 「インストラクター」 for sports or hobby instructors, 先生 for teachers and instructors generally and when addressing one, 教師 for the teaching profession, 教員 for school faculty, and 師範 for martial or traditional arts instructors.

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

• 先生せんせいteacher
• 教師きょうしteacher
• インストラクターinstructor
• 師範しはんinstructor (esp. of martial or traditional arts)
• 教員きょういんteacher
• 教官きょうかんteacher
• 指南役しなんやくinstructor
• 指南番しなんばんinstructor
• 指導員しどういんinstructor
• 図師ずしinstructor
• 専任講師せんにんこうしfull-time lecturer
• 講師こうしlecturer (at a university or college)
• 導師どうしguru
• デモンストレーター(snowboard or ski) instructor