Sensei

先生

Honorific title for a teacher or instructor in Japanese culture.

Quick Facts

CategoryTitle

Pronunciation/[sen-say]/

Alternative NamesTeacher, Master, Instructor

Definition

The word Sensei translates literally to 'one born before' (Sen = before, Sei = life/birth). It describes a person who has walked the path ahead of their students and shares their acquired wisdom. Within a dojo, the title addresses fully qualified teachers, used either on its own or as a suffix following the surname.

Related Terms

Dojo道場

Traditional training hall for Japanese martial arts and meditation.

Sifu / Shifu師父 / 師傅

Title for a master or teacher in Chinese martial arts.

Senpai / Sempai先輩

Senior or more experienced student in Japanese dojo hierarchy.

Kohai / Kōhai後輩

Junior or less experienced student relative to senior peers.

Associated Martial Arts

Takamura Shindo Yoshin-ryu Tenjin Shin-ryu Jujutsu Jikishin-ryu Jujutsu Kosen Judo Yoshinkan Aikido Byakuren Kaikan Asayama Ichiden-ryu Tenjin Shin'yo-ryu Jujutsu Shotokan Kyushin-ryu Jujutsu Takagi-ryu Jujutsu Chokushin-ryu Jujutsu Shindo Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Unkei-ryu Jujutsu Seidokaikan Karate Sekiguchi-ryu Jujutsu Hontai Yoshin-ryu Jujutsu Jundokan Goju-ryu Shinno Shinto-ryu Jujutsu Kyokushin Budokai Shibukawa-ryu Jujutsu