Chinese word

前辈

Pronunciation

Pinyinqián bèi

Meaning

  • nounsenior

Example

遇到问题可以问前辈。yù dào wèn tí ké yǐ wèn qián bèi

You can ask a senior when you have a problem.

Illustration for 前辈 (senior)

More examples

在会议上，前辈分享了他们的经验之谈。zài huì yì shàng qián bèi fēn xiǎng le tā men de jīng yàn zhī tán

At the meeting, the seniors shared advice based on their experience.

Core concept

A trusted member of the same field who stands earlier on the path and has experience to pass on.

Common phrases

  • 作为前辈zuò wéi qián bèi

    as a senior

  • 向前辈学习xiàng qián bèi xué xí

    learn from seniors

  • 前辈的经验之谈qián bèi de jīng yàn zhī tán

    a senior's advice from experience

Similar words

学长/学姐xué zhǎng xué jiě: A higher-year student who offers help with learning and daily school life.
长辈zhǎng bèi: An older family or community member who gives advice based on experience.
师兄/师姐shī xiōng shī jiě: A senior member of the same tradition or workplace who passes skills to juniors.

Definition in Chinese

比自己在时间或经验上更早进入同一团体、行业或领域的人，通常资历较深，后辈会向其请教或表示尊重。bǐ zì jǐ zài shí jiān huò jīng yàn shàng gèng zǎo jìn rù tóng yì tuán tǐ háng yè huò lǐng yù de rén tōng cháng zī lì jiào shēn hòu bèi huì xiàng qí qǐng jiào huò biǎo shì zūn zhòng

Word origin

前辈 (qiánbèi, "senior or predecessor") joins 前 (qián, "ahead") and 辈 (bèi, "generation or group of people"), presenting a senior member as someone who belongs to an earlier cohort.

Usage tips

  • In everyday introductions, it usually describes a relationship within a shared school, workplace, or profession, not simply an age difference.

Other meanings

  • predecessornoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word