Sunbae is an important term in Japanese culture that has its roots in the traditional hierarchical system. It is used to show respect for someone who is senior or higher up than you, and can be used when addressing them directly (e.g., “sunbaenim”) or referring to them indirectly (e.g., “sunbaesama”). There are subtle differences between senpai and sunbae which should be noted when using these terms correctly; however they both generally mean "senior" or "superior".