kōhai

A form of kohai — A junior member of a group in Japanese arts; mentee.

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Meanings

nounkōhai (plural kōhais or kōhai)

plural kōhais

  1. alternativeAlternative spelling of kohai.

    Kōhai are to show senpai respect, and to do what senpai tell them.

    2001, Daniel Touro Linger, No One Home: Brazilian Selves Remade in Japan, Stanford University Press, →ISBN, page 65
    2 more examples

    They usually act as a mentor for kōhai, although in reality not all senpai are as generous or genuine about mentoring junior colleagues.

    2022, Marc Helmold, Ayşe Küçük Yılmaz, Triant Flouris, Thomas Winner, Violeta Cvetkoska, Tracy Dathe, Lean Management, Kaizen, Kata and Keiretsu: Best-Practice Examples and Industry Insights from Japanese Concepts, Springer, →ISBN, page 57

    The senpai teaches by example when paired with kōhai in sparring drills, challenging the younger student with speed, power, precision, and control.

    2022, Alex W. Tong, The Science and Philosophy of Martial Arts: Exploring the Connections Between the Cognitive, Physical, and Spiritual Aspects of Martial Arts, Blue Snake Books, →ISBN, page 203
Cite this entry
APA

kōhai. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/k%C5%8Dhai

MLA

“kōhai.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/k%C5%8Dhai. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kōhai,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/k%C5%8Dhai.

Source: kōhai on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.