先輩|せんぱいsenpai[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suffixsenior (at school, work, etc.); superior; elder; older person; predecessor
   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.

• Synonym目上めうえFormalFormal. Someone of higher status or age than you, as in 「目上の人に敬語を使う」; covers a broader range than 「先輩」.
• Synonym長上ちょうじょうFormalFormal. A written word for elders and superiors; it has an old-fashioned ring and is little used.
• Related年上としうえNeutralNeutral. Simply older in age, as in 「三つ年上」; age only, with no idea of seniority or who came first.
• Related年長ねんちょうNeutralNeutral. Older in age; also the oldest class at kindergarten, as in 「年長組」, a sense heard often in daily life.
• Related古参こさんNeutralNeutral. An old-timer who has long belonged to a workplace or group, as in 「古参社員」; the emphasis is on seniority.
• Related上席じょうせきFormalFormal. A word for the seat of honour or a higher rank, as in 「上席研究員」.
• Related上うえNeutralNeutral. Someone above you in status, as in 「上の人」; a colloquial, general way to refer to one's superiors.
• Related上長じょうちょうFormalFormal. A word for one's boss or superior, common at work; the focus is on position.
• Related年長者ねんちょうしゃWrittenWritten. A person older than oneself, as in 「年長者を敬う」; a matter of age alone.
• Related年嵩としかさWrittenWritten. Older in years, as in 「年嵩の男」; stresses relative age, being older than the other person.
• Antonym後輩こうはいNeutralNeutral. The opposite of 「先輩」: someone who entered your school or workplace after you did.

Use 「先輩」 by default for a senior at school or work. For someone higher in status or age use 「目上」; for age alone 「年上」 or the written 「年長者」; for a veteran 「古参」; for a boss the formal 「上長」. 「年長」 also names the top kindergarten class, 「上席」 a higher grade, and 「上」 colloquially any superior; 「年嵩」 is written and 「長上」 old-fashioned. The opposite is 「後輩」.

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

1. 先さきに生うまれた人ひと。
2. 年齢ねんれい、地位ちい、経験けいけん、学問がくもん、技術ぎじゅつなどで自分じぶんより上うえの人ひと。
3. 同おなじ学校がっこうや職場しょくばに先さきに入はいった人ひと。