sempai
/ˈsɛmpaɪ/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.81 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
Alternative form of senpai.
Example Sentences
- "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."
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈsɛmpaɪ/
- British English: /ˈsɛmpaɪ/