Shi (rank)

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
 PLA Ground Force[1]
 PLA Navy[1]
 PLA Air Force[1]
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

Taiwan

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
 Republic of China Army[2]
 Republic of China Navy[2]
 Republic of China Air Force[2]
 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
 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force[3]
 Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force[3]
 Japan Air Self-Defense Force[3]
Rank group Enlisted

North Korea

See also: Comparative military ranks of Korea
Sa
Hangul
사
Hanja
Revised RomanizationSa
McCune–ReischauerSa
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
 KPA Ground Force[4]
U.S. equivalent[4] Sergeant major Master sergeant Sergeant first class Staff sergeant Sergeant Corporal Private first class Private
 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
 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
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

Vietnamese variant

Rank group Non-commissioned officers
Vietnamese Thượng sĩ Trung sĩ Hạ sĩ
Chữ Hán 上士 中士 下士
Literal translation Upper officer Middle officer Lower officer
 Vietnam People's Ground Force[7]
 Vietnam People's Navy[7]
 Vietnam People's Air Force[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 First upper officer Upper officer First middle officer Middle officer First lower officer Lower officer
 Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(1967-1975)[8]
Translation[8] Master sergeant, first class Master sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Corporal major Corporal
 Republic of Vietnam Navy
(1967-1975)[8]
Translation[8] Officer Chief petty officer Petty officer first class Petty officer second class Leading seaman Able seaman
 Republic of Vietnam Marine Division
(1967-1975)
Translation Master sergeant, first class Master sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Corporal major Corporal
 Republic of Vietnam Air Force
(1967-1975)[8]
Translation[8] Master sergeant, first class Master sergeant Sergeant first class Sergeant Corporal major Corporal
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 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 Chinese). Ministry of National Defense. Archived from the original on 28 December 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "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. ^ a b c "自衛官の階級" [Self-Defense Forces rank]. mod.go.jp (in Japanese). Japanese Ministry of Defense. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d e f 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 Korean). Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  6. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c "Quy định quân hiệu, cấp hiệu, phù hiệu và lễ phục của Quân đội nhân dân Việt Nam". mod.gov.vn (in Vietnamese). Ministry of Defence (Vietnam). 26 August 2009. Archived from the original on 2 December 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Armed Forces Information and Education (1968). Uniforms of Seven Allies (DOD GEN-30). Department of Defense. pp. 26–28. Retrieved 2 July 2022.