Other honorific vocabs

sylvian14

sylvian14

October 12, 2008

Minnasan .. konnichiwa. There is a honorific word that I've heard and that is "senpai". (sorry if it's not the correct spelling) Is it commonly used in today's Japanese community when they greet a person ? I heard "KUN" or "CHAN" or sometimes even "SA" being used, so just want some clarifications here. :) arigato gozaimasu in advance. :)
(deleted)

(deleted)

October 13, 2008

senpai = 先輩 saki = 先 meaning "before, ahead, previous, future, precedence" yakara = 輩 meaning "comrade, fellow, people, companions" senpai = せんぱい This is what we call the senior student in out Martial Arts school. The name can mean the following "senior (at work or school), superior, elder, older graduate, progenitor, old-timer" Hope this helps. Brian
sylvian14

sylvian14

October 13, 2008

Brian san ... konnichiwa :) Domo arigato gozaimashita !! :D
(deleted)

(deleted)

October 13, 2008

Do Itashimashte!
Sayaka-Matsuura

Sayaka-Matsuura

October 13, 2008

Excellent explanation Brian-san! Yes, *Senpai*and it's counter word, *Kouhai* are both common words you will hear in Japanese society. The Senpai-Kouhai relationship is especially seen in schools, companies, and communities. *Senpai* is like a "mentor" *Kouhai* is like a "trainee" :arrow: In high school sports team, for example, the 1st year students do everything for the 3rd year students...including getting drinks, snacks, cleaning, and washing uniforms. When the 1st years themselves become 3rd years, they of course expect the same thing of the new 1st years. :arrow: This *Senpai-Kouhai* relationship will continue as long as the two people know each other.
sylvian14

sylvian14

October 14, 2008

Konnichiwa minnasan ... :) Ah ... so desu ne ... :) Thank you again for the explanations, rljapan. :) Okage sama de Brian san as well ... :)

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