せん
先
せい
生

noun

  1. teacher, instructor, master.

noun, noun used as a suffix

Honorific or respectful language.
  1. sensei, title or form of address for a teacher, master, doctor, lawyer, etc..

noun

  1. intimate or teasing form of address. Familiar language, jocular, humorous term.
  2. one's elder. Archaism. Orig. meaning.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
せん
先
せい
生
 先生 せんせい ✔

Contained Kanji Breakdown

before, ahead, previous
セン　さき　ま.ず (1st, N5)
cow, (牛 variant)
person, (人 variant)
above
ジョウ　うえ　うわ-
legs radical (no. 10)
ジン　ニン　がい (Kentei 1)
life, genuine, birth
セイ　い.きる　う.まれる (1st, N5)