Where does “senpai” come from?
senpai (English) comes from Japanese 先輩, from Middle Chinese 先 — first, former; earlier, first.
senpai (English): The senior member of a group in Japanese arts; a...
Definitions
- The senior member of a group in Japanese arts; a...
Ancestry of “senpai”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Japanese | 先輩 | a senior, one who has seniority; an upperclassman |
| 2 | Middle Chinese | 先 | first, former; earlier, first |
Words derived from “senpai”