Japanese culture
What does Senpai mean?
The one who arrived earlier at school, in the club, at work: senior in the path, not necessarily in civil age.
Definition
Senpai (先輩) is a hierarchy of time. The kouhai looks up. The West turned the word into a crush meme (notice me senpai). In everyday Japanese it is still school and company etiquette. Using senpai in English or Portuguese is already an anime citation as much as sociology.
Origin
Japanese 先輩, school and corporate etiquette.
History
From the school club to the international meme.
How it emerged
The West needed a vocative for the club crush, and took the wrong title in the right tone.
Usage examples
Senpai is not only a crush; it is who came before.
In the club, the senpai teaches the kata and sometimes ignores the kouhai.
Translations
- pt senpai
- en senpai
- es senpai
Synonyms
- veteran
- the one who came first
- kouhai (the inverse)
Related terms
Questions
What is senpai?
The person with more time in the school, club or workplace.
A boyfriend?
No. The crush meme is a Western use on top of etiquette.
Kouhai?
The one who arrived later. The other half of the hierarchy.