Back to all words

Sensei

2 stages from Japanese to English.

Today it means a teacher or instructor, especially in Japanese martial arts
1
Stage 1 of 2
sen + sei
Japanese · medieval
"one born earlier; a teacher"
combining "sen" (before) and "sei" (born, life), literally "born before"
2
Stage 2 of 2
sensei
English · 1900s
"a teacher or master, especially of martial arts"
adopted through the spread of Japanese martial arts
Drag to pan · scroll to zoom