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Learn Hardcore Japanese: senpai - senior

Hardcore Japanese
/Lesson 24
/senpai

senpai

Word

先輩せんぱいsenpai

Meaning

senior

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore Japanese

Lesson

Usages of senpai

先輩せんぱい　は　いい　人ひと　だ　が、　ときどき　忙いそがしい。senpai wa ii hito da ga, tokidoki isogashii.

My senior is a good person, but sometimes busy.

Nihon-shiki romanizationwatasi ha tyuugoku kara kimasita

Hepburn romanizationwatashi wa chuugoku kara kimashita

彼女かのじょ　は　新あたらしい　先輩せんぱい　に　直接ちょくせつ　質問しつもんした。kanojo wa atarashii senpai ni chokusetsu shitsumonshita.

She asked the new senior directly.

先輩せんぱい　は　説明せつめい　が　上手じょうず　だ。　それ　に、　声こえ　も　聞ききやすい。senpai wa setsumei ga jouzu da. sore ni, koe mo kikiyasui.

My senior explains well. In addition, her voice is easy to hear.

彼かれ　は　遅刻ちこくした　ので、　先輩せんぱい　に　謝あやまった。kare wa chikokushita node, senpai ni ayamatta.

He was late, so he apologized to his senior.

原因げにん　が　分わからない　場合ばあい　は、　先輩せんぱい　に　相談そうだんしよう。genin ga wakaranai baai wa, senpai ni soudanshiyou.

If you don't know the cause, let's consult a senior.

その　部活ぶかつ　の　先輩せんぱい　は　厳きびしかった　が、　今いま　思おもえば　兄あにたち　は　よく　練習れんしゅうさせられて　強つよく　なった　と　思おもう。sono bukatsu no senpai wa kibishikatta ga, ima omoeba anitachi wa yoku renshuusaserarete tsuyoku natta to omou.

The seniors in that club were strict, but looking back, I think my brother and his teammates were made to practice a lot and became strong.

説明会せつめいかい　で　は、　合格ごうかくした　先輩せんぱい　が　体験たいけん　を　話はなして　くれる　らしい。setsumeikai de wa, goukakushita senpai ga taiken o hanashite kureru rashii.

At the information session, a senior who passed will apparently talk about their experience.

昨夜ゆうべ　は　残業ざんぎょう　の　あと、　先輩せんぱい　が　差さし入いれ　の　ケーキ　を　持もって　来きて　くれて、　とても　嬉うれしかった　です。yuube wa zangyou no ato, senpai ga sashiire no keeki o motte kite kurete, totemo ureshikatta desu.

Last night, after working overtime, my senior brought cake as a treat, and I was very happy.

先輩せんぱい　を　昼ひるご飯はん　に　誘さそう　とき　は、　丁寧ていねいな　言いい方かた　を　した　ほう　が　いい。senpai o hirugohan ni sasou toki wa, teineina iikata o shita hou ga ii.

When you invite a senior to lunch, it’s better to use polite wording.

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