Watching films made in Japan , often through the voice acting you can hear the word "sensei". And all would be nothing, but how to understand what it means? Especially if in one film it is used, referring to the teacher, in another - to the doctor, and in the third - to a relative. Based on this problem, in the article we will tell what sensei is, the meaning of the word and when it is used.
The meaning and origin of the word
Oriental culture is specific, but Japan is doubly amazing. Take, for example, the word "sensei", this is one of the borrowed Chinese terms, the original name of which is "xiangsheng" (that is, lord). If in China the word "master" is spoken to everyone who is older in age, then in Japan not only those who are older deserve this appeal, but also those who have a certain body of knowledge.
That is, one can say that sensei is the oldest person with valuable knowledge and the ability to teach it. Simply put, teacher.
Features of use
Indeed, originally in Japan, the word "sensei" was used only in educational institutions. It was believed that the older person is more experienced and wiser, so you need to ask for his advice. And since teachers are always (or in most cases) older than their students, then they turned to them and said “sensei”.
Sensei is a person to whom you need to be respectful. This category includes not only teachers, but doctors and lawyers, who are also called sensei.
Previously, this word was not used outside of educational institutions, but the country needed experienced doctors, engineers, lawyers. But only at the beginning of the 19th century there were practically no institutions in which they were taught precisely these specialties. Therefore, those who wanted to become doctors or lawyers were forced to learn from those who made a living from this. Such people who are not teachers, but share their experience, and are called sensei.
Now it is safe to say that sensei is a word that has nothing to do with the field of education, it only indicates the position of one person relative to another and describes the relationship between them.
Sensei or Senpai: Hierarchy Complexities
Very often the word sensei is confused with the word senpai. Indeed, “senpai” means practically the same thing: a person who knows more than the other. But if you look, it becomes clear that the term “senpai” focuses on the time that a person spent in a certain area.
Example: two students are friends, one is in grade 9, the other is in 11. The one who is in grade 11 will be senpai for the ninth grader. After all, he knows better the school curriculum, since he studied 2 years more. But the physics teacher will be a sensei for them, because he is knowledgeable in his subject better than those two combined.
You can still give an example from martial arts. The group deals with guys from 20 to 30 years old. One fine day a new one comes to them, who has been over 40 years old. But since he had just started classes, regardless of age, the guys in the group will be his senpai, because they do this longer. But the head coach for the newcomer and for all the other guys will remain sensei.
Thus, if the word “senpai” is present in a conversation between two people, this means that people have a common occupation and one of them is engaged in this field more time.
And laughter and sin
The word sensei has a simple meaning. This is not a scientific degree, not a job title, not a field of research. To summarize and simplify a little, then “sensei” means the same thing as “you” in Russian - nothing more than a respectful attitude.
But in 2014, at one of the domestic tournaments in oriental martial art, diplomas were issued in which it was stated that the owner of this honorary certificate was a "sensei". The domestic organizers of the competition were not at all embarrassed by such an interpretation, but the Japanese side (when the translator showed them one of the letters after the holiday) was in deep bewilderment. After all, in fact, the athletes were given diplomas in which it is indicated that they can be respected and addressed to “You”.
And in order to avoid such unpleasant situations, you need to know in advance what a particular word means. Sensei is the one who teaches. He can be a teacher, lawyer, doctor, miner. Or a simple person of advanced age, with whom the interlocutor talks about life and calls him sensei as a sign of respect. As a result, only one thing can be said: sensei is not a profession, but a sign of respect.
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