Wei (rank)

"Shao Wei" redirects here. For the American poet, see Shao Wei (poet).
"Da Wei" redirects here. For the Chinese video game producer, see Liu Wei (born 1987).
Wei
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese尉
Simplified Chinese尉
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinwèi
Wade–Gileswei
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabetúy
Chữ Hán尉
Korean name
Hangul위
Hanja尉
Transcriptions
Revised Romanizationwi
Japanese name
Kanji尉
Transcriptions
Romanizationwi

Wei is a company-grade officer rank used in some East Asian militaries, including China, Taiwan, North Korea and South Korea.

Chinese variant

People's Liberation Army

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 Junior officers
Chinese 大尉 上尉 中尉 少尉
Pinyin Dàwèi Shàngwèi Zhōngwèi Shǎowèi
Literal translation Great officer Upper officer Middle officer Lower officer
 PLA Ground Forces[1] Used only
1955–1965
 PLA Navy[1]
 PLA Air Force[1]
People's Armed Police[1]
大尉
Da wei		 上尉
Shang wei		 中尉
Zhong wei		 少尉
Shao wei
Rank group Junior officers

Republic of China Armed Forces

Rank group Junior officers
Chinese 上尉 中尉 少尉
Taiwanese Hokkien Siōng-ùi Tiong-ùi Siáu-ùi
Literal translation 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]
上尉
Siōng-ùi		 中尉
Tiong-ùi		 少尉
Siáu-ùi
Rank group Junior officers

Korean variant

See also: Comparative military ranks of Korea
Wi
Hangul
위
Hanja
Revised RomanizationWi
McCune–ReischauerWi

North Korea

Rank group Junior officers
Hangul 대위 상위 중위 소위
Hanja 大尉 上尉 中尉 少尉
Romanization Taewi Sangwi Chungwi Sowi
Literal translation Great rank Upper rank Middle rank Lower rank
 Korean People's Army Ground Force[3]
Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant
 Korean People's Navy[3]
Lieutenant Lieutenant
junior grade 		Ensign
 Korean People's Army Air Force[3]
Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant
대위
Taewi 		상위
Sangwi 		중위
Chungwi 		소위
Sowi
Rank group Junior officers

South Korea

Rank group Junior officers
Hangul 대위 중위 소위 준위
Hanja 大尉 中尉 少尉 准尉
Romanization Daewi Jungwi Sowi Junwi
Literal translation Great rank Middle rank Small rank Given rank
 Republic of Korea Army[4]
Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Warrant officer
 Republic of Korea Navy[5]
Translation[6] Lieutenant Lieutenant junior grade Ensign Warrant officer
 Republic of Korea Air Force
Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Warrant officer
 Republic of Korea Marine Corps
Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Warrant officer
대위
Daewi 		중위
Jungwi 		소위
Sowi 		준위
Junwi
Rank group Junior officers

Vietnamese variant

Rank group Junior officers
Native name Đại úy Thượng úy Trung úy Thiếu úy
Chữ Hán 大尉 上尉 中尉 少尉
Literal translation Grand officer Upper officer Middle officer Smaller officer
 Vietnam People's Ground Force[7]
 Vietnam People's Navy[7]
 Vietnam People's Air Force[7]
Native name Đại úy Thượng úy Trung úy Thiếu úy
Rank group Junior officers

South Vietnamese variant

Main article: South Vietnamese military ranks and insignia
Rank group Junior officers Officer cadet
Native name Đại úy Trung úy Thiếu úy Chuẩn úy
Chữ Hán 大尉 中尉 少尉 准尉
Literal translation Great officer Middle officer Smaller officer Quasi-officer
 Army of the Republic of Vietnam
(1967-1975)[8]
Translation[8] Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Aspirant
 Republic of Vietnam Navy
(1967-1975)[8]
Translation[8] Lieutenant Lieutenant (junior grade) Ensign Commissioned warrant officer
 Republic of Vietnam Marine Division
(1967-1975)
Translation Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Aspirant
 Republic of Vietnam Air Force
(1967-1975)[8]
Translation[8] Captain First lieutenant Second lieutenant Aspirant
Native name Đại úy Trung úy Thiếu úy Chuẩn úy
Rank group Junior officers Officer cadet

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 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.
  4. ^ "Army Insignia". army.mil.kr. Republic of Korea Army. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  5. ^ "해군계급장/해군흉.휘장". navy.mil.kr (in Korean). Republic of Korea Navy. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. ^ "Rank insignia". navy.mil.kr. Republic of Korea Navy. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  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.