先生

• Reading: せんせい
• Romaji: sensei
• Kanji breakdown: 先 (sen/saki) — before, ahead; 生 (sei/ikiru) — life, born
• Pronunciation: /seɴ.seː/

Meaning

Teacher; instructor; master. A respectful title for educators and professionals.

Used not only for school teachers but also for doctors, lawyers, politicians, and other respected professionals. It doubles as both a noun and a title of address — you can call someone 田中先生 (Tanaka-sensei) directly. Never used to refer to yourself.

Examples

1. 先生、質問があります。 Teacher, I have a question.
2. 山田先生は数学を教えています。 Mr. Yamada teaches math.
3. 先生のおかげで日本語が上手になりました。 Thanks to my teacher, my Japanese has gotten much better.

Usage Guide

Context: school, workplace, addressing professionals

Tone: respectful

Origin & History

Composed of 先 (sen, 'before/ahead') and 生 (sei, 'born/life'). Literally means 'born before' or 'one who comes before,' implying someone with more experience and knowledge.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal