Meaning of sempai | Babel Free

Examples

“One boy in a boarding school emphasizing athletics says that his dorm mates tend to work problems out physically: “We often fight, and they often make me cry. . . . Even though I was told I’d only last in the dorm for three months, and others are dropping out, I’m still here—but the sempai are frightening.” In his school, the sempai have a special way of tormenting younger students, making them “do performance.””

“Within the dojo in general, sempai are expected to bring along those under them. They may push and prod and challenge their kohai to succeed and improve.”

“Whereas kohai are often expected to obey their sempai at some cost to their personal welfare, sempai assume a corresponding obligation.”

CEFR level