Sensei is not a profession, but a sign of respect

Watching films of Japanese production, 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 the relative. Based on their problems, in the article we will tell you what sensei is, the meaning of a word and when it is used.

The meaning and origin of the word

Eastern culture is specific, but Japan is doubly surprising. Take, for example, the word "sensei", this is one of the borrowed Chinese terms, the original name of which is "xiansheng" (that is, the master). If in China the word "gentleman" is spoken to everyone who is older by age, in Japan this treatment is deserved not only by those who are older, but also by those who have a certain amount of knowledge.

That is, we can say that sensei is the oldest person with the valuable knowledge and able to teach them. Simply put, teacher.

Features of use

Indeed, initially in Japan the word "sensei" was used only in educational institutions. It was believed that the older man is more experienced and wiser, so you need to ask his advice. And since teachers are always (or in most cases) older than their students, then addressing them, they said "sensei".

Sensei is a person to whom respect must be shown. In this category can be attributed 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. It was only at the beginning of the 19th century that there were practically no institutions where these specialties were taught. Therefore, those wishing to become doctors or lawyers had to learn from those who earned it for living. Such people who are not teachers, but pass on their experience, and are called sensei.

Now it can be confidently asserted that sensei is a word that has nothing to do with the sphere of education, it only indicates the position of one person relative to another and describes the relationship between them.

Sensei or sempai: the complexity of the hierarchy

Very often the word "sensei" is confused with the word "sempai". After all, "sempai" means practically the same thing: a person who knows more than the other. But if you understand, it becomes clear that the term "sempai" focuses on the time that a person spent in a certain area.

Example: there are two schoolboys who are friends, one is in grade 9, the other is in 11. The one who studies in grade 11 will be a sempai for a ninth-grader. After all, he knows better the school curriculum, since he studied for 2 more years. But the teacher of physics will be a sensei for them, since he is aware of his subject better than the two taken together.

Another example of oriental martial arts. In the group are engaged guys from 20 to 30 years. One day a newcomer comes to them, who is already more than 40 years old. But since he has just started his studies, regardless of age, the guys from the group will be his sempai, because they are engaged in this longer. But the head coach and for the newcomer, and for all the other guys will remain a sensei.

Thus, if the word "sempai" is present in the conversation of two people, it 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 the title of the post, not the field of research. If to generalize and simplify a little, then "sensei" means, the same thing as "You" in Russian - nothing more than a respectful attitude.

But in 2014 in one of the domestic tournaments in the oriental martial arts issued diplomas, which were written that the owner of this honorary sheet is "sensei." Domestic organizers of the competitions did not at all embarrass such an interpretation, but the Japanese side (when the translator showed them one of the letters after the holiday) was deeply perplexed. After all, in fact, athletes were given diplomas in which it was stated that they could be respected and applied to "You".

And to avoid such unpleasant situations, you need to know in advance what the word means. Sensei is the one who teaches. He can be a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, a miner. Or a simple elderly person, with whom the person talks about life and, in a sign of respect, calls Sensei. As a result, one can say only one thing: sensei is not a profession, but a sign of respect.

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