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 groupNon-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
PinyinYījí jūnshìzhǎngÈrjí jūnshìzhǎngSānjí jūnshìzhǎngSìjí jūnshìzhǎngShàngshìZhōngshìXiàshì
Literal translationFirst-class soldier leaderSecond-class soldier leaderThird-class soldier leaderFourth-class soldier leaderUpper soldierMiddle soldierLower soldier
PLA Ground Force
PLA Navy
PLA Air Force
People's Armed Police
Rank groupNon-commissioned officers

Taiwan

Rank groupNon-commissioned officers
Chinese一等士官長二等士官長三等士官長上士中士下士
PinyinYīděng shìguānzhǎngÈrděng shìguānzhǎngSānděng shìguānzhǎngShàngshìZhōngshìXiàshì
Literal translationFirst-class officer leaderSecond-class officer leaderThird-class officer leaderUpper officerMiddle officerLower officer
Republic of China Army
ROC Military Police
Republic of China Navy
Republic of China Air Force
Republic of China Marine Corps
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 groupNon-commissioned officers

Japan

Rank groupEnlisted
Japanese士長1等士2等士
RomanizationShichōIttō shiNitō shi
Literal translationOfficer leaderFirst-class officerSecond-class officer
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
Rank groupEnlisted

North Korea

Rank groupNon-commissioned officersEnlisted
Hangul특무상사상사중사하사상급병사중급병사하급병사전사
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
RomanizationT'ŭkmu-sangsaSangsaChungsaHasaSanggŭp-pyŏngsaChungŭp-pyŏngsaHagŭp-pyŏngsaChŏnsa
Literal translationSpecial duty upper officerUpper officerMiddle officerLower officerUpper-class soldierMiddle-class soldierLower-class soldierCombat officer
KPA Ground Force
U.S. equivalentSergeant majorMaster sergeantSergeant first classStaff sergeantSergeantCorporalPrivate first classPrivate
KPA Navy
U.S. equivalentMaster chief petty officerSenior chief petty officerChief petty officerPetty officer first classPetty officer second classPetty officer third classSeamanSeaman apprentice
KPA Air Force
U.S. equivalentChief master sergeantSenior master sergeantMaster sergeantTechnical sergeantStaff sergeantSergeantAirman first classAirman
특무상사 T'ŭkmu-sangsa상사 Sangsa중사 Chungsa하사 Hasa상급병사 Sanggŭp-pyŏngsa중급병사 Chungŭp-pyŏngsa하급병사 Hagŭp-pyŏngsa전사 Chŏnsa
Rank groupNon-commissioned officersEnlisted

South Korea

Rank groupNon-commissioned officer
Hangul원사상사중사하사
Hanja元士上士中士下士
RomanizationWonsaSangsaJungsaHasa
Literal translationChief soldierUpper soldierMiddle soldierLower soldier
Armed Forces
U.S. equivalent (Army)Sergeant majorMaster sergeantSergeant first classStaff sergeant
U.S. equivalent (Navy)Master chief petty officerSenior chief petty officerChief petty officerPetty officer first class
U.S. equivalent (Air Force)Chief master sergeantSenior master sergeantMaster sergeantTechnical sergeant
U.S. equivalent (Marine Corps)Sergeant majorMaster sergeantGunnery sergeantStaff sergeant
Rank groupNon-commissioned officers

Vietnamese variant

Rank groupNon-commissioned officers
VietnameseThượng sĩTrung sĩHạ sĩ
Chữ Hán上士中士下士
Literal translationUpper wariorMiddle warriorLower warrior
Vietnam People's Ground Force
Vietnam People's Navy
Navy sailor suit
Vietnam People's Air Force
Vietnam Border Guard
Vietnam Coast Guard
Rank groupNon-commissioned officers

South Vietnamese variant

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOs
Native nameThượng sĩ nhấtThượng sĩTrung sĩ nhấtTrung sĩHạ sĩ nhấtHạ sĩ
Chữ Hán上士一上士中士一中士下士一下士
Literal translationUpper warrior first classUpper warriorMiddle warrior first classMiddle warriorLower warrior first classLower warrior
Army of the Republic of Vietnam (1967–1975)
TranslationMaster sergeant, first classMaster sergeantSergeant first classSergeantCorporal majorCorporal
Republic of Vietnam Navy (1967–1975)
TranslationOfficerChief petty officerPetty officer first classPetty officer second classLeading seamanAble seaman
Republic of Vietnam Marine Division (1967–1975)
TranslationMaster sergeant, first classMaster sergeantSergeant first classSergeantCorporal majorCorporal
Republic of Vietnam Air Force (1967–1975)
TranslationMaster sergeant, first classMaster sergeantSergeant first classSergeantCorporal majorCorporal
Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOs

See also

Ranks used in Chinese character-using countries

Notes