先生
せんせい·sensei
Meaning
teacher; instructor; doctor; master; title of respect for professionals
Nuance & Usage
先生 is used not only for teachers but also as a respectful title for doctors, lawyers, politicians, and other professionals. It functions as both a noun and a honorific suffix: 山田先生 (Yamada-sensei). In school, students always address teachers as 先生, never by name alone. Note: you never call yourself 先生 — it would sound arrogant. The word literally means "one born before" (先 = before, 生 = born), reflecting respect for experience.
Common Mistakes
A key mistake: calling yourself 先生 or using it for peers. 先生 is always used for someone in a position of authority or expertise relative to you. Also, in a doctor's office, you call the doctor 先生, not 医者さん (ishasan). When writing emails to a teacher, use 先生 as a suffix after the surname: 田中先生, never just 田中さん.
Example Sentences (3)
先生、質問があります。
せんせい、しつもんがあります。
Teacher, I have a question.
日本語の先生はとても優しいです。
にほんごのせんせいはとてもやさしいです。
My Japanese teacher is very kind.
先生に相談してみてください。
せんせいにそうだんしてみてください。
Please try consulting with the teacher.
Quick Quiz
Quick Quiz
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