後こう輩はい

こ

う

は

い

Common wordJLPTN3Freq.FrequencyTop 5,000

Meanings

junior; younger colleague; underclassman

Refers to someone with less experience or lower seniority in a school, workplace, or organization. The relationship is relative and often implies a mentoring dynamic with a 先輩.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉は〈人ひと〉の後こう輩はいだX is Y's junior (in a school, club, or workplace)
田た中なかさんは私わたしの会かい社しゃの後こう輩はいです。
Mr. Tanaka is my junior at the company.
後こう輩はいができるto get a junior/underclassman (e.g. when new members join)
新しん入にゅう社しゃ員いんが入はいって、初はじめて後こう輩はいができた。
New employees joined, and I got a junior for the first time.
後こう輩はいの指し導どうをするto mentor/train a junior
先せん輩ぱいとして後こう輩はいの指し導どうをするのは大たい変へんだ。
Mentoring my junior as a senpai is tough.
後こう輩はいをかわいがるto be affectionate toward / look out for one's junior
彼かれはいつも後こう輩はいをかわいがっている。
He always looks out for his juniors kindly.

Expressions

先せん輩ぱい後こう輩はいone's seniors and juniors; senior-junior relationship · seniority-based hierarchy; hierarchical system

Kanji

後behind, back, later
輩comrade, fellow, people

Related words

同どう僚りょうN3
後輩 specifically marks someone as junior in seniority, whereas 同僚 refers to a colleague of equal standing with no seniority implied.
部ぶ下かN2
後輩 is based on relative seniority or experience (e.g. school year), while 部下 specifically means a subordinate in a formal organizational hierarchy.
後こう進しん
後輩 refers to a specific junior colleague or classmate in a direct relationship, while 後進 is a broader, more formal term for the younger generation as a whole.
目め下したN2
後輩 refers to a junior in the same school or organization based on entry order, whereas 目下 more generally covers anyone of lower rank or age.

Opposites

先せん輩ぱいN4
後輩 is a junior or less experienced person, while 先輩 is the senior or more experienced counterpart in the same group.

Don't confuse with

年とし下したN2
後輩 refers to someone junior in rank or seniority (e.g. at school or work), while 年下 refers purely to age, regardless of rank.
荒こう廃はいN1
後輩 (junior colleague/underclassman) is pronounced identically to 荒廃 (ruin, devastation) but has a completely unrelated meaning.

Counted with

人にん
The everyday counter for people: 一人 (ひとり), 二人 (ふたり), 三人 (さんにん).
名めいN2
More formal than 人 — used for headcounts in reservations, staff lists, and announcements (5名様).

Etymology

Composed of 後 (after, later) and 輩 (comrade, fellow), literally meaning 'later comrade' or 'one who comes after'.