Shi (rank)

(Redirected from Wonsa)

Shi (Chinese: ; Korean; Hanja) 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

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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 senior corps warrior Second class senior corps warrior Third class senior corps warrior Fourth class senior corps warrior Upper warrior Middle warrior Lower warrior
  PLA Ground Force[1]              
  PLA Navy[1]              
  PLA Air Force[1]              
Native name 一级军士长
Yījí jūnshìzhǎng
二级军士长
Èrjí jūnshìzhǎng
三级军士长
Sānjí jūnshìzhǎng
四级军士长
Sìjí jūnshìzhǎng
上士
Shàngshì
中士
Zhōngshì
下士
Xiàshì
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

Taiwan

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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 warrior officer Second class warrior officer Third class warrior officer Upper warrior Middle warrior Lower warrior
  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

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Rank group Enlisted
Japanese 士長 1等士 2等士
Romanization Shichō Ittō shi Nitō shi
Literal translation Warrior senior First class warrior Second class warrior
  Japan Ground Self-Defense Force[3]      
  Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force[3]      
  Japan Air Self-Defense Force[3]      
Rank group Enlisted

North Korea

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Sa
Hangul
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 warrior Upper warrior Middle warrior Lower warrior Upper class weapon warrior Middle class weapon warrior Lower class weapon warrior Fight warrior
  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

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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
원사
元士
Wonsa
상사
上士
Sangsa
중사
中士
Jungsa
하사
下士
Hasa
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

Vietnamese variant

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Rank group Non-commissioned officers
Vietnamese Thượng sĩ Trung sĩ Hạ sĩ
Chữ Hán 上士 中士 下士
Literal translation Upper warrior Middle warrior Lower warrior
  Vietnam People's Ground Force[7]      
  Vietnam People's Navy[7]    
  Vietnam People's Air Force[7]      
Vietnamese Thượng sĩ Trung sĩ Hạ sĩ
Rank group Non-commissioned officers

South Vietnamese variant

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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 warrior Upper warrior First middle warrior Middle warrior First lower warrior Lower warrior
  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
Native name Thượng sĩ nhất Thượng sĩ Trung sĩ nhất Trung sĩ Hạ sĩ nhất Hạ sĩ
Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs

See also

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References

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  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.