Sections
Sensei (先生): what it means in anime
先生
せんせい · sensei · teacher; sensei JLPT N5
Sensei means "teacher", but it is also the title for doctors, lawyers, authors and anyone whose skill you respect. Naruto's Kakashi, Assassination Classroom's Koro-sensei and Jujutsu Kaisen's Gojo are all 先生.
Where you hear it 6 of 42 series
Lines from the Japanese subtitles of episodes 1–3 of each show. A translation is shown only when it clearly matches the line; counts are subtitle lines containing the word.
-
Assassination Classroom · 104 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
あの先生は なぜか普通に先生しているfor whatever reason, he's teaching us just like any other teacher would.
-
Naruto · 19 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
巻物のことも この場所も ミズキ先生が…Mizuki Sensei. He told me about this scroll, and this place...
-
One-Punch Man · 29 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
先生のように 強くなる方法
-
Jujutsu Kaisen · 8 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 1
じゃあ 先生 俺 用事あるんで
-
Erased · 7 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 3
八代先生 あ… あの…
-
Your Lie in April · 4 lines in episodes 1–3 · this one from episode 2
審査委員長は あの風間先生か
Usage and nuance
It is used as a standalone address, 先生！, and as a suffix after a name, 殺せんせー. The kanji mean "born before", so the idea is someone ahead of you on the path.
In a hospital the doctor is 先生; in a manga magazine the artist is 先生; at a dojo the master is 先生. Do not call a school friend 先生 as a joke unless you mean to tease them.
The learner mistake is calling yourself 先生. It is a title others give you, never one you claim.
Hear 先生 in Assassination Classroom104 lines in episodes 1–3 · tappable subtitles · free, no account