(sem-pie) student senior to oneself; someone with a higher rank or who attained the same rank at an earlier date. (see kohai)

a classmate, older (?)

A term of respect used for someone else who is guiding you in some area. In Japanese schools, it is used by students for those in higher classes. It can be used as a noun, or as an honorific suffix to someone's name. (The inverse relationship is "kouhai".)

Japanese -n, suffix. An upperclassman or mentor. Also an honorific suffix used when addressing such a person.

a martial arts student

A social senior in whose steps you are following, e.g. an upperclassman at school. The senior person is the "sempai" and the junior person is the "kohai". Sometimes used for boyfriend-girlfriend relationships especially if the girl is younger.

senior classmate

term used to address a more senior member of one's class or working environment. Loosely, 'upperclassman'

honorific used when addressing students or co-workers senior to oneself; also used as a word by itself

aikidoka senior to one-self

( sem-pie) A senior grade

Senior student.

one's senior, elder

a social elder, most often in a work or school situation

Seniors, high-ranking budoka

A senior grade. Used by a junior grade when wishing to ask about a technique being taught or supervised by the senior grade. In a Japan, a sempai is an older man who guides and instructs a younger man he works with.