Thursday, September 4, 2008

The honorifics Senpai and Sensei

I thought that if i post these two together it would be less confusing

The honorifics Senpai is used to address senior or mentor figures, EX students referring to more senior students in schools, junior athletes more senior ones in a sports club, or a mentor or for layman trums someone who is way more experienced . As with English titles such as Doctor or Coach senpai can be used either by itself as a title, or with a person's name in place of san( see post the honorific san).

Now then the honorific sensei is used to address teachers, practitioners of a profession such as doctors , lawyers, politicians, and other authority figures. Or i can be used to show respect to someone who has achieved a certain level of mastery in an art form or some other skill.

As with senpai, sensei can be used not only as a suffix but a title by itself, translating to "Professor" or "Teacher".

No comments: