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Shi (rank)

From Tilcayo Cats, the lean encyclopaedia by Tilcayo Knowledge Systems

Shi (Chinese: 士; Korean: 사; Hanja: 士) is the rank usually held by Non-commissioned officers in some East Asian militaries. The ranks are used in both the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, and both North and South Korea. The rank name is based on the on one of the four ancient occupations.

China

The same rank names are used for all services, prefixed by haijun (simplified Chinese: 海军; traditional Chinese: 海軍; lit. 'naval force') or kongjun (simplified Chinese: 空军; traditional Chinese: 空軍; lit. 'air force').

Rank group Non-commissioned officers
Chinese 一级军士长 二级军士长 三级军士长 四级军士长 上士 中士 下士
Pinyin Yījí jūnshìzhǎng Èrjí jūnshìzhǎng Sānjí jūnshìzhǎng Sìjí jūnshìzhǎng Shàngshì Zhōngshì Xiàshì
Literal translation First-class soldier leader Second-class soldier leader Third-class soldier leader Fourth-class soldier leader Upper soldier Middle soldier Lower soldier
File:Ground Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA Ground Force[1][a]
File:Naval ensign of China.svg PLA Navy[1]
File:Air Force Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg PLA Air Force[1]
File:People's Armed Police Flag.svg People's Armed Police
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

Taiwan

Main article: Republic of China Armed Forces rank insignia
Rank group Non-commissioned officers
Chinese 一等士官長 二等士官長 三等士官長 上士 中士 下士
Pinyin Yīděng shìguānzhǎng Èrděng shìguānzhǎng Sānděng shìguānzhǎng Shàngshì Zhōngshì Xiàshì
Literal translation First-class officer leader Second-class officer leader Third-class officer leader Upper officer Middle officer Lower officer
File:Flag of the Republic of China Army.svg Republic of China Army[2]
File:Republic of China Military Police Flag.svg ROC Military Police[2]
File:Flag of the Republic of China.svg Republic of China Navy[2]
File:Flag of the Republic of China Air Force.svg Republic of China Air Force[2]
File:Flag of the Republic of China Marine Corps.svg Republic of China Marine Corps[2]
一等士官長
Yīděng shìguānzhǎng		 二等士官長
Èrděng shìguānzhǎng		 三等士官長
Sānděng shìguānzhǎng		 上士
Shàngshì		 中士
Zhōngshì		 下士
Xiàshì
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

Japan

Rank group Enlisted
Japanese 士長 1等士 2等士
Romanization Shichō Ittō shi Nitō shi
Literal translation Officer leader First-class officer Second-class officer
File:Flag of JSDF.svg Japan Ground Self-Defense Force[3]
File:Naval Ensign of Japan.svg Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force[3]
File:Flag of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.svg Japan Air Self-Defense Force[3]
Rank group Enlisted

North Korea

Sa
Hangul
사
Hanja
士
RRsa
MRsa
Rank group Non-commissioned officers Enlisted
Hangul 특무상사 상사 중사 하사 상급병사 중급병사 하급병사 전사
Hanja 特務上士 上士 中士 下士 上級兵士 中級兵士 下級兵士 戰士
Romanization T'ŭkmu-sangsa Sangsa Chungsa Hasa Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa Chungŭp-pyŏngsa Hagŭp-pyŏngsa Chŏnsa
Literal translation Special duty upper officer Upper officer Middle officer Lower officer Upper-class soldier Middle-class soldier Lower-class soldier Combat officer
File:Flag of the Korean People's Army Ground Force (2023-).svg KPA Ground Force[4]
U.S. equivalent[4] Sergeant major Master sergeant Sergeant first class Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private first class Private
File:Flag of the Korean People's Army Navy (Obverse).svg KPA Navy[4]
U.S. equivalent[4] Master chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class Petty officer second class Petty officer third class Seaman Seaman apprentice
File:Flag of the Korean People's Army Air and Anti-Air Force (Obverse).svg KPA Air Force[4]
U.S. equivalent[4] Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant Staff sergeant Sergeant Airman first class Airman
특무상사
T'ŭkmu-sangsa		 상사
Sangsa		 중사
Chungsa		 하사
Hasa		 상급병사
Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa		 중급병사
Chungŭp-pyŏngsa		 하급병사
Hagŭp-pyŏngsa		 전사
Chŏnsa
Rank group Non-commissioned officers Enlisted

South Korea

Main article: Military ranks of South Korea
Rank group Non-commissioned officer
Hangul 원사 상사 중사 하사
Hanja 元士 上士 中士 下士
Romanization Wonsa Sangsa Jungsa Hasa
Literal translation Chief soldier Upper soldier Middle soldier Lower soldier
File:Flag of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.svg Armed Forces[5]
U.S. equivalent
(Army)[6] 		Sergeant major Master sergeant Sergeant first class Staff sergeant
U.S. equivalent
(Navy)[6] 		Master chief petty officer Senior chief petty officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class
U.S. equivalent
(Air Force)[6] 		Chief master sergeant Senior master sergeant Master sergeant Technical sergeant
U.S. equivalent
(Marine Corps) 		Sergeant major Master sergeant Gunnery sergeant Staff sergeant
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

Vietnam

Rank group Non-commissioned officers
Vietnamese Thượng sĩ Trung sĩ Hạ sĩ
Chữ Hán 上士 中士 下士
Literal translation Upper warior Middle warrior Lower warrior
File:Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.svg Vietnam People's Ground Force[7][b]
File:Vietnam People's Navy flag.svg Vietnam People's Navy[7]
Navy sailor suit[8]
File:Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force.svg Vietnam People's Air Force[7]
File:Vietnam Border Defense Force flag.svg Vietnam Border Guard[7]
File:Vietnam Coast Guard flag.svg Vietnam Coast Guard[7]
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

South Vietnamese variant

Main article: South Vietnamese military ranks and insignia
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs
Native name Thượng sĩ nhất Thượng sĩ Trung sĩ nhất Trung sĩ Hạ sĩ nhất Hạ sĩ
Chữ Hán 上士一 上士 中士一 中士 下士一 下士
Literal translation Upper warrior first class Upper warrior Middle warrior first class Middle warrior Lower warrior first class Lower warrior
File:Flag of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.svg Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(1967–1975)[9]
Translation[9] Master sergeant, first class Master sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Corporal major Corporal
File:Flag of the Republic of Vietnam Navy.svg Republic of Vietnam Navy
(1967–1975)[9]
Translation[9] Officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class Petty officer second class Leading seaman Able seaman
File:Flag of the Republic of Vietnam Marine Division.svg Republic of Vietnam Marine Division
(1967–1975)
Translation Master sergeant, first class Master sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Corporal major Corporal
File:Flag of the Republic of Vietnam Air Force.svg Republic of Vietnam Air Force
(1967–1975)[9]
Translation[9] Master sergeant, first class Master sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Corporal major Corporal
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs

See also

Ranks used in Chinese character-using countries

Notes

  1. ↑ Same insignia for the Rocket Force, Aerospace Force, and Cyberspace Force.
  2. ↑ Same insignia for the Mausoleum Command.[7]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Ping, Xu (7 August 2017). "我军建军九十年军衔制度沿革" [The evolution of our military rank system over the ninety years of its establishment]. mod.gov.cn (in 中文). Ministry of National Defense. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Lùhǎikōng jūnfú zhì tiáolì fù tú" 陸海空軍服制條例附圖 [Drawings of the Uniform Regulations of the Army, Navy and Air Force] (PDF). Gazette of the Presidential Palace (6769): 65–67. 7 November 1996. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 March 2017. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "自衛官の階級" [Self-Defense Forces rank]. mod.go.jp (in 日本語). Japanese Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 Minnich, James M. (2008). "National Security". In Worden, Robert L. (ed.). North Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (5th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. pp. 266, 268. LCCN 2008028547. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  5. ↑ "gyegeubjang-ui jesig(je7joje2hang gwanlyeon)" 계급장의 제식(제7조제2항 관련) [Rank insignia (related to Article 7 (2))]. law.go.kr (in 한국어). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Katz, Rodney P. (1992). "National Security". In Savada, Andrea Matles; Shaw, William (eds.). South Korea: a country study. Area Handbook (4th ed.). Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. p. 292. LCCN 91039109. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 "Quy định quân hiệu, cấp hiệu, phù hiệu và lễ phục của Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam". mod.gov.vn (in Tiếng Việt). Ministry of Defence (Vietnam). 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. ↑ "Trang phục Học viên đào tạo sĩ quan, Hạ sĩ quan - Binh sĩ" [Uniforms for Officer and Non-commissioned Officer Training Cadets - Soldiers]. Ministry of National Defense. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Armed Forces Information and Education (1968). Uniforms of Seven Allies (DOD GEN-30). Department of Defense. pp. 26–28. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
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