前辈是汉字文化圈中社会中对无血缘关系而比自己年长者，或者同组织中科层地位相近而比自己资深者的称呼。

对于前辈，有若干不同的称呼法，例如在学徒、剧团之间叫「师兄」、「师姐」；学生、军队、警察和消防队等之间叫「学长」、「学姐」。

韩国前辈制是年纪比你大，通常都要叫「哥哥」、「姐姐」。

In Japan, senpai(先輩) is an upperclassman, someone of a higher age, or senior and kōhai(後輩) is a protégé or junior. The mentor system is found at all levels of education, and in sports clubs, businesses, and informal or social organizations. The relationship is an essential element of Japanese seniority-based status relationships, similar to the way that family and other relationships are decided based on age, in which even twins may be divided into elder and younger siblings.