I always prefered Enoeda Sensei. I think i must have picked it up from Ohta Sensei. What is the plural? Senseis? Does the name still pre Sensei? Who comes firzt?
Japanese words aren't pluralized by adding an s at the end of the word like they are in English. However when speaking English it will be understood by English teachers if you add an s or a 's at the end of a word to indicate pluralization or ownership. Pluralizing Japanese words outside the Japanese language would change the word and possibly make it confusing. 先生達 (Sensei tachi) might be a way you refer to a group of instructors using honorifics but I wouldn't recommend using this word while speaking English.
How does it work when somebody refers to a Sensei by their first name in the west, then adds 'Sensei' on the end? Ellis Amdur went on a bit of a hobby horse about this, saying it just sounds ridiculous to the Japanese speakers - example 'Tony Sensei'. He says it wouldn't be done, because the context of using someone's given name as opposed to their family name is what you might do with kids. So, 'Smith Sensei' would be correct. But what if you had two Smith's and both are Sensei, in the room, what happens then? I am not a Japanese speaker, so I just don't know.
As much as I agree that in Japan the most used pattern is to attach Sensei after the family name it's not unheard of to use given names followed by sensei. Foreigners are often referred to by their first names so when I arrived in Japan and was an English teacher most people called me Tony Sensei. When I was training at my Wado Dojo the head instructor was called Koga Sensei. After he passed away his nephew took over the dojo. His family name was Koga as well but he went by his given name and sensei to people at the dojo because the name Koga Sensei belonged to the dojo figurehead.
When it comes to there being multiple people of the same name that's actually quite common in Japan. Names like Sato, Suzuki, Takahashi, and Tanaka are incredibly common and you might find yourself in a room with several people of this name. You would still generally refer to them as Family name, sensei unless you wanted to add a further indicator by saying their full name as family name, given name, sensei.
Sempai...whete does thaf come in?
N;;;)
I published my article on the word senpai. Please check it out below.
https://bunburyoudou.substack.com/p/the-senpai-kouhai-relationship
Actually, several people have asked about the word 先輩 (senpai). I think I'll need to write a separate article on that to give full context.
I always prefered Enoeda Sensei. I think i must have picked it up from Ohta Sensei. What is the plural? Senseis? Does the name still pre Sensei? Who comes firzt?
Japanese words aren't pluralized by adding an s at the end of the word like they are in English. However when speaking English it will be understood by English teachers if you add an s or a 's at the end of a word to indicate pluralization or ownership. Pluralizing Japanese words outside the Japanese language would change the word and possibly make it confusing. 先生達 (Sensei tachi) might be a way you refer to a group of instructors using honorifics but I wouldn't recommend using this word while speaking English.
Thanks. Luv this stuff. More please.
How does it work when somebody refers to a Sensei by their first name in the west, then adds 'Sensei' on the end? Ellis Amdur went on a bit of a hobby horse about this, saying it just sounds ridiculous to the Japanese speakers - example 'Tony Sensei'. He says it wouldn't be done, because the context of using someone's given name as opposed to their family name is what you might do with kids. So, 'Smith Sensei' would be correct. But what if you had two Smith's and both are Sensei, in the room, what happens then? I am not a Japanese speaker, so I just don't know.
As much as I agree that in Japan the most used pattern is to attach Sensei after the family name it's not unheard of to use given names followed by sensei. Foreigners are often referred to by their first names so when I arrived in Japan and was an English teacher most people called me Tony Sensei. When I was training at my Wado Dojo the head instructor was called Koga Sensei. After he passed away his nephew took over the dojo. His family name was Koga as well but he went by his given name and sensei to people at the dojo because the name Koga Sensei belonged to the dojo figurehead.
When it comes to there being multiple people of the same name that's actually quite common in Japan. Names like Sato, Suzuki, Takahashi, and Tanaka are incredibly common and you might find yourself in a room with several people of this name. You would still generally refer to them as Family name, sensei unless you wanted to add a further indicator by saying their full name as family name, given name, sensei.