🇨🇳
China vs Japan Military Ranks
The Chinese Army has 19 ranks — 10 officer and 9 enlisted — from 陆军列兵 (Private) up to 陆军上将 (General). Below: all 57 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), aligned tier by tier with their Japanese equivalents.
Branches
3
Ranks documented
57
Active personnel
2M
Army
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 16 of 19 matched
| 🇨🇳 China · Army | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
陆军上将 (General)
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる陸将 Bakuryōchō-taru-rikushō
|
陆军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
陸将 Rikushō
|
陆军少将 (Major General)
|
OF-7 Major General |
陸将補 Rikushō-ho
|
陆军大校 (Senior Colonel)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
陆军上校 (Colonel)
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等陸佐 Ittō rikusa
|
陆军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等陸佐 Nitō rikusa
|
陆军少校 (Major)
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等陸佐 Santō rikusa
|
陆军上尉 (Captain)
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等陸尉 Ittō rikui
|
陆军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
陆军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等陸尉 Nitō rikui
3等陸尉 Santō rikui
准陸尉 Jun rikui
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
陆军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
陸曹長 Rikusōchō
|
陆军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等陸曹 Ittō rikusō
|
陆军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等陸曹 Nitō rikusō
|
陆军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等陸曹 Santō rikusō
|
陆军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
陆军中士 (Sergeant)
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
陆军下士 (Corporal)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
陸士長 Rikushichō
|
陆军上等兵 (Private First Class)
|
OR-2 Private |
1等陸士 Ittō rikushi
|
陆军列兵 (Private)
|
OR-1 Private |
2等陸士 Nitō rikushi
|
Navy
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 16 of 19 matched
| 🇨🇳 China · Navy | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
海军上将 (Admiral)
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる海将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kaishō
|
海军中将 (Vice Admiral)
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
海将 Kaishō
|
海军少将 (Rear Admiral)
|
OF-7 Major General |
海将補 Kaishō-ho
|
海军大校 (Senior Captain)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
海军上校 (Captain)
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等海佐 Ittō kaisa
|
海军中校 (Commander)
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等海佐 Nitō kaisa
|
海军少校 (Lieutenant Commander)
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等海佐 Santō kaisa
|
海军上尉 (Lieutenant)
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等海尉 Ittō kaii
|
海军中尉 (Sub-Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
3等海尉 Santō kaii
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
海军少尉 (Ensign)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等海尉 Nitō kaii
3等海尉 Santō kaii
准海尉 Jun kaii
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
海军一级军士长 (First Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
海曹長 Kaisōchō
|
海军二级军士长 (Second Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等海曹 Ittō kaisō
|
海军三级军士长 (Third Class Sergeant Major)
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等海曹 Nitō kaisō
|
海军一级上士 (First Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等海曹 Santō kaisō
|
海军二级上士 (Second Class Master Sergeant)
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
海军中士 (Sergeant)
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
海军下士 (Corporal)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
海士長 Kaishichō
|
海军上等兵 (Seaman First Class)
|
OR-2 Private |
1等海士 Ittō kaishi
|
| 海军列兵 (Seaman Recruit) | OR-1 Private |
2等海士 Nitō kaishi
|
Air Force
Rank Ladder
Highest first · 16 of 19 matched
| 🇨🇳 China · Air Force | NATO code |
Equivalent in
|
|---|---|---|
| Officers | ||
空军上将 (General)
|
OF-9 General |
幕僚長たる空将 Bakuryōchō-taru-kūshō
|
空军中将 (Lieutenant General)
|
OF-8 Lieutenant General |
空将 Kūshō
|
空军少将 (Major General)
|
OF-7 Major General |
空将補 Kūshō-ho
|
空军大校 (Senior Colonel)
|
OF-6 Brigadier General | – |
空军上校 (Colonel)
|
OF-5 Colonel |
1等空佐 Ittō kūsa
|
空军中校 (Lieutenant Colonel)
|
OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel |
2等空佐 Nitō kūsa
|
空军少校 (Major)
|
OF-3 Major / Commandant |
3等空佐 Santō kūsa
|
空军上尉 (Captain)
|
OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
1等空尉 Ittō kūi
|
空军中尉 (First Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
3等空尉 Santō kūi
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
空军少尉 (Second Lieutenant)
|
OF-1 Lieutenant |
2等空尉 Nitō kūi
3等空尉 Santō kūi
准空尉 Jun kūi
|
| Enlisted ranks | ||
空军一级军士长 (Master sergeant first class)
|
OR-9 Sergeant Major |
空曹長 Kūsōchō
|
空军二级军士长 (Master sergeant second class)
|
OR-8 1st Sergeant |
1等空曹 Ittō kūsō
|
空军三级军士长 (Master sergeant third class)
|
OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class |
2等空曹 Nitō kūsō
|
空军一级上士 (Technical sergeant)
|
OR-6 Staff Sergeant |
3等空曹 Santō kūsō
|
空军二级上士 (Staff sergeant)
|
OR-5 Sergeant | – |
空军中士 (Sergeant)
|
OR-4 Corporal | – |
空军下士 (Corporal)
|
OR-3 Private 1st Class |
空士長 Kūshichō
|
空军上等兵 (Airman First Class)
|
OR-2 Private |
1等空士 Ittō kūshi
|
空军列兵 (Airman)
|
OR-1 Private |
2等空士 Nitō kūshi
|
Overview
The armed forces of China, known as the "People's Liberation Army" (PLA), are among the largest and most powerful military forces in the world. The PLA consists of several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF): The PLAGF is responsible for land-based military operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and territorial integrity.
- People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN): The PLAN focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a variety of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, surface ships, and patrol boats. It is responsible for safeguarding China's extensive coastline and maritime interests in the South China Sea and beyond.
- People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF): The PLAAF is responsible for aerial defense and operations. It operates fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters, ensuring air superiority and national defense.
- People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF): The PLARF oversees China's missile forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which form a critical part of China's nuclear deterrent.
- People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF): The PLASSF focuses on electronic warfare, cyber operations, and space-based capabilities, providing support for the PLA's modern warfare needs.
China Military
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