Sensei in Japanese
"sensei" is written as one word in Japanese. No single kanji carries the meaning on its own.
The characters below are the ones most often used to write "sensei" and related ideas.
先View details →
Top pick
before, ahead, previous, future, precedence
Reading: sen
6 strokes
Where it comes from
Composed of '之' (advance) and '儿' (person). Going ahead of others.
What it carries
Leadership, priority, ancestors. Also represents respect for past wisdom.
Related kanji for "sensei"
Frequently asked questions
What is the Japanese kanji for sensei?
The most common kanji for "sensei" is 先, read as sen. It means before, ahead, previous. Related kanji: 生 (sensei).
How many strokes does 先 have?
先 has 6 strokes.