<p>I believe there is no English equivalent, but there are some equivalents that I know of.</p>

<p><strong>Senior/Junior</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>older/younger in age or higher/lower in rank.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Bob is the senior developer in our team.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Bob 是我們團隊裡最資深的程序員。</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>James is 5 years my junior. </p>
</blockquote>

<p>James 比我小五歲。</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Being a senior, I shall take the duty.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>作為最資深的人，我應該要拿下這份職務。</p>

<p><strong>Predecessor</strong></p>

<ul>
<li>person who has a job/position prior to another.</li>
</ul>

<p>Examples:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>Larry, the new coach of Mickey (I made this up), is way more experienced than his predecessors.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>米奇隊的新教練Larry比他的前輩（之前的教練）有經驗多了。</p>

<hr>

<p>Note the subtle difference between predecessor and senior – predecessor has to be someone that <strong>pre-existed</strong> in the setting, whereas senior is someone that <strong>co-exists</strong> in the setting.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-24T14:30:08.973Z
+1 for the answer's accurancy
Alex
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T02:37:23.333Z
2015-04-23T02:37:23.333Z
Thomas Hsieh
<p>I would just use 'sir'. A friendly, colloquial way to address an old man is 'old fella'.</p>

<p>你叫我‘前辈 ’, 我已经觉得像史前原人的遗骸了.</p>

<p>When you call me 'old fella', </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T02:22:16.220Z
2015-04-23T02:22:16.220Z
Pedroski
<p>When addressing a young man, you may say just that: </p>

<p>Young man, could you please help me?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-23T05:56:39.143Z
2015-04-23T05:56:39.143Z
Peter Pan
<p>It's used in respect for talking to a superior and respectfully, so is there even an english equivalent for it or is it just a special title used for Chinese?</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-24T08:12:24.583Z
Is Senpai a widely understood word in English-speaking country?
hrzhu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2015-04-24T13:14:27.587Z
@hrzhu, no, it isn't.
Suragch
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-28T02:35:04.660Z
前辈: predecessor, eldership, master, senior. 晚辈: junior, maybe there are not any equivalent if they are used for **personal pronouns**, like 请前辈赐教 and 晚辈告辞了.
xenophōn
<translation>
Any english equivalent for "前輩" or "晚輩"?
# Any english equivalent for "前輩" or "晚輩"?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2015-04-23)

It's used in respect for talking to a superior and respectfully, so is there even an english equivalent for it or is it just a special title used for Chinese?

**Tags:** translation

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Is Senpai a widely understood word in English-speaking country?  
> **username_2**: @username_1, no, it isn't.  
> **username_3**: 前辈: predecessor, eldership, master, senior. 晚辈: junior, maybe there are not any equivalent if they are used for **personal pronouns**, like 请前辈赐教 and 晚辈告辞了.  

---

## 3 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2015-04-23. Score: 4

I believe there is no English equivalent, but there are some equivalents that I know of.

**Senior/Junior**

* older/younger in age or higher/lower in rank.

Examples:

> Bob is the senior developer in our team.

Bob 是我們團隊裡最資深的程序員。

> James is 5 years my junior.

James 比我小五歲。

> Being a senior, I shall take the duty.

作為最資深的人，我應該要拿下這份職務。

**Predecessor**

* person who has a job/position prior to another.

Examples:

> Larry, the new coach of Mickey (I made this up), is way more experienced than his predecessors.

米奇隊的新教練Larry比他的前輩（之前的教練）有經驗多了。

---

Note the subtle difference between predecessor and senior – predecessor has to be someone that **pre-existed** in the setting, whereas senior is someone that **co-exists** in the setting.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: +1 for the answer's accurancy  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2015-04-23. Score: 2

I would just use 'sir'. A friendly, colloquial way to address an old man is 'old fella'.

你叫我‘前辈 ’, 我已经觉得像史前原人的遗骸了.

When you call me 'old fella',


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### Answer by username_7 on 2015-04-23. Score: 2

When addressing a young man, you may say just that:

Young man, could you please help me?


---

