How to say “teacher” in Japanese | 先生 (せんせい、sensei)

29.05.2023

The Japanese vocabulary「先生 (せんせい、sensei)」means “teacher.” Please learn the pronunciation and the example sentences.

Japanese Vocabulary and the Meaning

Key Word先生
Hiraganaせんせい
Romaji Readingsensei
English Meaningteacher

「先生」is added after the teacher’s name.

Ichiyo is a Japanese teacher, so his students call him「一陽先生いちようせんせい」.

The Correct Japanese Pronunciations

Please learn the pronunciation by watching the attached video. You can also learn example sentences.

Our main YouTube channel: Ichiyo’s Japanese YouTube Channel
Our sub-YouTube channel (Japanese vocabulary videos): Ichiyo’s Subchannel

The Example Japanese Sentences

It is important to have skills in both non-honorific and honorific languages in order to use Japanese correctly.

I learn guitar from Angelo-sensei.

Plain Form:

Japanese Sentence アンジェロ先生せんせいにギターを習ならっている。
Romaji ReadingAnjero-sensei ni gitā o naratte iru.

※ The literal translation of「アンジェロ先生」is “teacher Angelo.”

Polite Form:

Japanese Sentenceアンジェロ先生にギターを習っています。
Romaji ReadingAnjero-sensei ni gitā o naratte imasu.

Takahashi-sensei (teacher) always looks angry.

Plain Form:

Japanese Sentence高橋たかはし先生せんせいはいつも怒おこった顔かおをしている。
Romaji ReadingTakahashi-sensei wa itsumo okotta kao o shite iru.

Polite Form:

Japanese Sentence高橋先生はいつも怒った顔をしています。
Romaji ReadingTakahashi-sensei wa itsumo okotta kao o shite imasu.

It seems that our homeroom teacher has caught a cold and is absent.

Plain Form:

Japanese Sentence担任たんにんの先生せんせいが風邪かぜを引ひいて休やすみらしい。
Romaji ReadingTan’nin no sensei ga kaze o hiite yasumi rashī.

Polite Form:

Japanese Sentence担任の先生が風邪を引いて休みらしいです。
Romaji ReadingTan’nin no sensei ga kaze o hiite yasumi rashī desu.
To Have Correct Japanese Language Skills

We teach Japanese to non-native Japanese learners. Judging from our experience, 90% of Japanese learners use incorrect Japanese and often speak rudely, even though they have lived in Japan for many years.

Therefore, we created two services. One is our “private Japanese conversation lesson” and the other is the “Daily Japanese Mail Support” service.

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