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๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ
Ranks· ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China

Chinese Military Ranks

The Chinese Army has 19 ranks โ€” 10 officer and 9 enlisted โ€” from ้™†ๅ†›ๅˆ—ๅ…ต (Private) up to ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ† (General). Below: all 57 ranks across 3 branches (Army, Navy, Air Force), with insignia and NATO-code equivalents.

Branches
3
Ranks documented
57
Active personnel
2M

Army

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China · Army NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ† (General) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ† (General) OF-9 General United States Army General insignia General
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๅฐ† (Lieutenant General) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๅฐ† (Lieutenant General) OF-8 Lieutenant General United States Army Lieutenant general insignia Lieutenant general
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ† (Major General) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ† (Major General) OF-7 Major General United States Army Major general insignia Major general
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ๅคงๆ ก (Senior Colonel) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ๅคงๆ ก (Senior Colonel) OF-6 Brigadier General United States Army Brigadier general insignia Brigadier general
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๆ ก (Colonel) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๆ ก (Colonel) OF-5 Colonel United States Army Colonel insignia Colonel
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๆ ก (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๆ ก (Lieutenant Colonel) OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel United States Army Lieutenant colonel insignia Lieutenant colonel
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๆ ก (Major) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๆ ก (Major) OF-3 Major / Commandant United States Army Major insignia Major
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ‰ (Captain) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ‰ (Captain) OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant United States Army Captain insignia Captain
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๅฐ‰ (First Lieutenant) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๅฐ‰ (First Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant United States Army First lieutenant insignia First lieutenant United States Army Second lieutenant insignia Second lieutenant
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ‰ (Second Lieutenant) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ‰ (Second Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant United States Army First lieutenant insignia First lieutenant United States Army Second lieutenant insignia Second lieutenant
Enlisted ranks
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธ€็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (First Class Sergeant Major) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธ€็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (First Class Sergeant Major) OR-9 Sergeant Major United States Army Command sergeant major insignia Command sergeant major United States Army Sergeant major insignia Sergeant major
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไบŒ็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Second Class Sergeant Major) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไบŒ็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Second Class Sergeant Major) OR-8 1st Sergeant United States Army First sergeant insignia First sergeant United States Army Master sergeant insignia Master sergeant
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธ‰็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Third Class Sergeant Major) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธ‰็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Third Class Sergeant Major) OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class United States Army Sergeant first class insignia Sergeant first class
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธ€็บงไธŠๅฃซ (First Class Master Sergeant) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธ€็บงไธŠๅฃซ (First Class Master Sergeant) OR-6 Staff Sergeant United States Army Staff sergeant insignia Staff sergeant
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไบŒ็บงไธŠๅฃซ (Second Class Master Sergeant) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไบŒ็บงไธŠๅฃซ (Second Class Master Sergeant) OR-5 Sergeant United States Army Sergeant insignia Sergeant
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๅฃซ (Sergeant) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธญๅฃซ (Sergeant) OR-4 Corporal United States Army Specialist insignia Specialist United States Army Corporal insignia Corporal
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธ‹ๅฃซ (Corporal) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธ‹ๅฃซ (Corporal) OR-3 Private 1st Class United States Army Private first class insignia Private first class
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠ็ญ‰ๅ…ต (Private First Class) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ไธŠ็ญ‰ๅ…ต (Private First Class) OR-2 Private United States Army Private insignia Private
China Army ้™†ๅ†›ๅˆ—ๅ…ต (Private) insignia ้™†ๅ†›ๅˆ—ๅ…ต (Private) OR-1 Private Private

Air Force

Rank Ladder Highest first · 19 of 19 matched
๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ China · Air Force NATO code
Equivalent in
Officers
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ† (General) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ† (General) OF-9 General United States Air Force General insignia General
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๅฐ† (Lieutenant General) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๅฐ† (Lieutenant General) OF-8 Lieutenant General United States Air Force Lieutenant general insignia Lieutenant general
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ† (Major General) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ† (Major General) OF-7 Major General United States Air Force Major general insignia Major general
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ๅคงๆ ก (Senior Colonel) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ๅคงๆ ก (Senior Colonel) OF-6 Brigadier General United States Air Force Brigadier general insignia Brigadier general
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠๆ ก (Colonel) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠๆ ก (Colonel) OF-5 Colonel United States Air Force Colonel insignia Colonel
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๆ ก (Lieutenant Colonel) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๆ ก (Lieutenant Colonel) OF-4 Lieutenant Colonel United States Air Force Lieutenant colonel insignia Lieutenant colonel
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๆ ก (Major) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๆ ก (Major) OF-3 Major / Commandant United States Air Force Major insignia Major
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ‰ (Captain) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠๅฐ‰ (Captain) OF-2 Captain / 1st Lieutenant United States Air Force Captain insignia Captain
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๅฐ‰ (First Lieutenant) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๅฐ‰ (First Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant United States Air Force First lieutenant insignia First lieutenant United States Air Force Second lieutenant insignia Second lieutenant
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ‰ (Second Lieutenant) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ๅฐ‘ๅฐ‰ (Second Lieutenant) OF-1 Lieutenant United States Air Force First lieutenant insignia First lieutenant United States Air Force Second lieutenant insignia Second lieutenant
Enlisted ranks
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ€็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Master sergeant first class) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ€็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Master sergeant first class) OR-9 Sergeant Major United States Air Force Command chief master sergeant insignia Command chief master sergeant United States Air Force First sergeant insignia First sergeant United States Air Force Chief master sergeant insignia Chief master sergeant
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไบŒ็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Master sergeant second class) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไบŒ็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Master sergeant second class) OR-8 1st Sergeant United States Air Force First sergeant insignia First sergeant United States Air Force Senior master sergeant insignia Senior master sergeant
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ‰็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Master sergeant third class) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ‰็บงๅ†›ๅฃซ้•ฟ (Master sergeant third class) OR-7 Sergeant 1st Class United States Air Force First sergeant insignia First sergeant United States Air Force Master sergeant insignia Master sergeant
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ€็บงไธŠๅฃซ (Technical sergeant) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ€็บงไธŠๅฃซ (Technical sergeant) OR-6 Staff Sergeant United States Air Force Technical sergeant insignia Technical sergeant
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไบŒ็บงไธŠๅฃซ (Staff sergeant) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไบŒ็บงไธŠๅฃซ (Staff sergeant) OR-5 Sergeant United States Air Force Staff sergeant insignia Staff sergeant
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๅฃซ (Sergeant) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธญๅฃซ (Sergeant) OR-4 Corporal United States Air Force Senior airman insignia Senior airman
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ‹ๅฃซ (Corporal) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธ‹ๅฃซ (Corporal) OR-3 Private 1st Class United States Air Force Airman first class insignia Airman first class
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠ็ญ‰ๅ…ต (Airman First Class) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ไธŠ็ญ‰ๅ…ต (Airman First Class) OR-2 Private United States Air Force Airman insignia Airman
China Air Force ็ฉบๅ†›ๅˆ—ๅ…ต (Airman) insignia ็ฉบๅ†›ๅˆ—ๅ…ต (Airman) OR-1 Private Airman basic

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
China military personnel in dress uniforms
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