Have you ever wondered what the word Senpai means? Have you also wondered what Kouhai means? What is the relationship between these two Japanese words? You have probably heard some anime character calling another by these names. To answer your question, let’s investigate the meaning and the relationship between these two words.
The words Senpai and Kouhai are honorifics based on status and hierarchy. The difference is that these words are usually used with affection and appreciation and not as a position or the idea that someone is superior to another person. In theory, there is no literal translation, but it can be explained.
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Table of Contents
The meaning of Senpai
Senpai [先輩] is the equivalent of the Western concept of veteran or tutor. This word is often used to refer to an older and more experienced person, a mentor or senior. It is a respectful term for older or more experienced people, a parent, graduate, or someone years ahead in school education.
The word SEN-PAI [先-輩] is the combination of the ideogram SEN [先] which conveys the idea of future, precedence, head, front, ancient, and first. The ideogram PAI [輩], conveys the idea of comrade, companion, and person. Literally, a companion who has more experience than you.
In Japanese, a person should never refer to themselves as “senpai,” nor should they chase after this title like some chase after the title of veteran or scout. Being a “senpai” means being recognized by others; it is an honorific that must be earned.
Veterans also do not put their title on business cards like doctors do in the West, nor do they usually force others to call them senpai. This respect is earned and can only be recognized by others. The treatment of senpai is similar to the treatment of sensei (master, teacher), but is one level below, and you do not need to be teaching anything.
The meaning of Kouhai
Kouhai [後輩] is basically the opposite of senpai, a generic equivalent to freshman in the West. Other meanings and ideas that the word conveys are junior and younger people. The ideogram [後] conveys the idea of behind, after, remainder, successor, heir, previous, and things like that. The word also has the ideogram [輩], but it is pronounced HAI.
Simply put, Senpai is used to refer to an older and more experienced person, a mentor or senior. Kouhai is a younger, novice, or inexperienced person. No one feels offended when called Kouhai; on the contrary, there is a great relationship between the two.
If you have talked to or made friends with any veteran, you automatically became a Kouhai and should call them Senpai as a sign of respect. Not using this treatment is like not respecting them. However, not all veterans call their Kouhai by the treatment and instead use their name or a nickname.
Senpai Slang – What does Paisen mean?
There is a slang that practically inverts the position of the ideograms in Senpai. The slang is Paisen [パイセン] and means the same thing, senior, superior, older, graduate, or parent. It is worth mentioning that this slang is ruder, and since the Japanese are polite, they do not usually use it.
Although Paisen is an informal word, it can indeed be used when you are very close to the Senpai; they will not take it disrespectfully, but often affectionately. It is simply a playful twist on the word Senpai, usually used in a cute, fun, and casual way, but it is still good to be careful when using it.
Paisen is also a nickname used for the comic masters Katsuya Yano and voice actress Sayuri Yahagi.
Using the words Senpai and Kouhai
The words in this article are suffixes just like [SAN, KUN, and CHAN] used after the name and separated by a hyphen in Portuguese. The main difference is that the Japanese tend to use Senpai and Kouhai as nicknames, without the need to mention the name beforehand.
Generally, a Senpai addresses a Kouhai with their name or surname followed by the suffix -Kun regardless of gender. Similarly, a Kouhai addresses a Senpai by their name with the suffix Senpai or San.
Normally, there is no separation according to age between these treatments. Those who entered school in the first year are considered Kōhai to those in the second and third years. There is a great friendship between Kouhai and Senpai, which can continue even after leaving school or organization.
Also read: Are Japanese Schools the Same as in Animes? Comparisons
In jobs, a person who has been there longer than you is considered Senpai, no matter if they arrived just a day earlier; you will still be the Kouhai. The concept is simple; it only becomes complicated when strange circumstances occur, such as failing or stopping working and returning again.
Some people write in Portuguese Sempai, but I hope there is no one without a father here. It is not incorrect, but using the word sempai further strengthens the idea of saying that someone does not have a father. The correct way to write is also kouhai although some romanize it as kōhai (the accents already arrive in Portuguese).
The Relationship between Kouhai and Senpai
The Senpai must show compassion, listening and putting themselves in the Kouhai’s shoes, exploring their thoughts and feelings. Many have felt the relief resulting from talking to someone who is willing to listen to them. Senpai must have the perception that Kouhai at certain moments need help and must create the right conditions to talk. They need to be available whenever necessary.
In Japanese sports clubs, such as baseball teams, Kouhai usually perform various household tasks for the Senpai, including washing clothes and cleaning. The Kouhai cannot participate in all club activities until they gain some experience.
In Japanese martial arts, the term Senpai usually refers to students at the last level who have a black belt. They are chosen to help the sensei with younger or less experienced students.
Also read: The 10 Japanese Martial Arts + List
If you are used to watching dramas and animes, you must have noticed the relationship between them or noticed several times students referring to older ones as Senpai. Some, when they become veterans, feel proud and satisfied, and do their best to help the newcomers.
Unfortunately, there are many cases where veterans do not fulfill their roles and act in an ignorant and despicable manner, offending Kouhai and people of lower levels, where ijime (bullying) can also occur. Such people are unlikely to be called by the honorific or receive special treatment.
Also read: Ijime – Bullying in Japanese Schools
The Love between Senpai and Kouhai
It is common for young students to fall in love with their Senpai; this has defined a new concept for the word like in the word “Crush.” This has even led to memes like “Notice Me Senpai,” which means observe me or notice me, an expression that also originated from animes and mangas. This expression indicates the need for approval that many people have from older or superior elements.
Unlike crush, which is used for platonic love, Senpai is one level above because we have a bit of intimacy and know the person. They take care of the Kouhai in a way that they end up falling in love. The fact that Kouhai are one level below makes them not have hopes for a relationship, especially when the Kouhai, then the suffering is even greater.
Senpai and Kouhai in Animes and Mangas
Seonbae and Hubae – Senpai in Korean
Seonbae [선배] comes from the same etymology as Senpai, almost a synonym. It refers to a mentor or someone who attends the same school as you but has a higher ranking, like a veteran in relation to a freshman.
When “Seonbae” is applied to taekwondo, the form “Koryo” has a floor pattern that traces the “Hanja” character for “Seonbae”; in this context, the term “Seonbae” refers to a class of civic officials from ancient Korea.
Hubae [후배] is the equivalent of Kouhai, used to refer to freshmen and juniors. Normally, people in senior and junior relationships call each other Seonbaenim [선배님] and Hubaenim [후배 님], where the nim is equivalent to a Korean honorific suffix.
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Senpai x Kouhai – Hierarchy
This hierarchy is common in countries where the majority is Confucian, such as Japan and Korea. “Veterans have enormous social power over the “newbies,” who are the vast majority. Social norms are ideologically justified in this case.
Senpai have powerful social power over Kouhai in Japan and Korea. Senpai have the right to discriminate against Kouhai as a privilege, with the right to use a negative expression TAM and the right to request the expression of obedience.
In some cases, the “senior” is implicitly recognized within the group as having the right to order something from the “junior.” Some even take advantage of this power to make freshmen buy things, without any hint of love and empathy.
The power of Senpai varies depending on each club and school; in schools like “Nistai Women’s Volleyball Club,” there are 300 items that students from lower classes must do. The fact is that freshmen have many more tasks than veterans.
Also read: Bukatsu – School Clubs in Japan – Extracurricular Activities
Although the goal of this freshman and veteran hierarchy is good, unfortunately, it is not respected by a good number of students. Generally, in this case, freshmen tend to distance themselves from a certain Senpai.
Abuses of Senpai with Kouhai
Of course, there are cases where the freshman may feel hit by the shadow, harbor grudges, and in the future be forced to assume the position of “senpai” in social norms. No one is obliged to follow the hierarchy, but it is very likely that this negatively affects the whole chain.
Those who criticize the system think it is arbitrary and unfair, that Senpai tend to be aggressive, and that the system results in shy or fearful students who are afraid to stand out. For example, some Kōhai fear that if they surpass their Senpai in an activity, their Senpai will lose their prestige; some even force Kouhai to apologize.
Some take advantage of the abuse of power (power harassment) to make freshmen slaves. Generally using offensive language, forcing the freshman or subordinate to carry their luggage, do their schoolwork, and even using violence.
For this reason, Japan promotes the positive side of this Senpai-Kouhai hierarchy. People are encouraged to see freshmen as “new friends” who help each other in various ways and not to consider them as inferior or tools for use.
As mentioned, being a Senpai is a delicate and more complicated task than being a Kouhai freshman. Surely those who do not take this relationship seriously end up suffering serious consequences in the future of their lives.
History and Origin of Senpai and Kouhai
The Senpai-Kōhai system is deeply rooted in Japanese history. Three elements had a significant impact on its development: Confucianism, the traditional Japanese family system, and the Civil Code of 1898.
Confucianism arrived from China between the 6th and 9th centuries, but the line of thought derived from it that brought profound social changes in Japan was Neo-Confucianism, which became the official doctrine of the Tokugawa shogunate (1603-1867).
The precepts of loyalty and filial piety dominated the Japanese at the time, as respect for elders and the worship of ancestors that Chinese Confucianism taught were well accepted by the Japanese, and these influences spread throughout daily life.
The Japanese family system (家 ie) was also regulated by Confucian codes of conduct and influenced the establishment of the senpai-kōhai relationship. In this family system, the father, as the male head, had absolute power over the family, and the eldest son inherited the family’s property.
The father had power because he was the one who received education and was seen as having superior ethical knowledge. Since reverence for superiors was considered a virtue in Japanese society, the wife and children had to obey him.
Besides the hereditary system, only the eldest son could receive the father’s belongings, and neither the eldest daughter nor the younger sons received anything from him.
The last factor that influenced the Senpai-kōhai system was the Civil Code of 1898, which strengthened the rules of seniority privilege and reinforced the traditional family system, giving clear definitions of hierarchical values in the family.
This was called Koshusei [戸主制], which means head of household system, in which the head of the family had the right to command their family, and the eldest son inherited this position. These statutes were abolished in 1947, after Japan’s surrender at the end of World War II. However, these ideals remained in the following years as a psychological influence on Japanese society.
Animes about Senpai and Kouhai
In addition to those mentioned earlier, we want to conclude the article with a list of animes that show the relationship between Senpai and Kouhai:
Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl-senpai no Yume wo Minai
Abnormal things due to problems in adolescence happen frequently in Sakuta Azusagawa’s life; these events are called Puberty Syndrome.
His life changes when Mai Sakurajima, a famous actress, his Senpai in High School, starts dressing as a “Playboy Bunny” due to Puberty Syndrome.
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This anime tells the story of a girl named Nagatoro who is Kouhai to an extremely shy and antisocial student but bullies him; she is not a good example of a Kouhai.
This anime is very painful; the girl is extremely sadistic and temperamental, but for some reason, this anime is very successful and proves to be very fun.
List of Animes about Senpai and Kouhai
- Clannad;
- Yagate kimi ni naru;
- Ijiranaide, nagatoro san
- Uzaki-chan wo asobitai
- Seitokaichou ni Chuukoku
- Ganbare, Douki-chan
- Magical Sempai
Videos related to Senpai and Kouhai
To conclude the article, we will leave some videos related to the words investigated in this article:
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