Commissioned officer ranks
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
The Military ranks of the Republic of China are the ranks used by the Republic of China Armed Forces. [lower-alpha 1] The official military rank names in Traditional Chinese are identical across all different military branches, but their English translations may be different.
The rank insignia of commissioned officers.
The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Enlisted personnel | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 一等士官長 | 二等士官長 | 三等士官長 | 上士 | 中士 | 下士 | 上等兵 | 一等兵 | 二等兵 |
| Mandarin | Yīděng Shìguānzhǎng | Èrděng Shìguānzhǎng | Sānděng Shìguānzhǎng | Shàngshi | Zhōngshi | Xiàshi | Shàngděng Bīng | Yīděng Bīng | Èrděng Bīng |
| Taiwanese | It-téng Sū-koaⁿ-tiúⁿ | Jī-téng Sū-koaⁿ-tiúⁿ | Sàm-téng Sū-koaⁿ-tiúⁿ | Siōng-sū | Tiong-sū | Hā-sū | Siōng-téng Peng | It-téng Peng | Jī-téng Peng |
| Hakka | Yit-tén Sṳ-kôn-chóng | Ngi-tén Sṳ-kôn-chóng | Sâm-tén Sṳ-kôn-chóng | Song-sṳ | Chûng-sṳ | Ha-sṳ | Song-tén Pîn | Yit-tén Pîn | Ngi-tén Pîn |
| Literal translation | First class warrior commander | Second class warrior commander | Third class warrior commander | Upper warrior | Middle warrior | Lower warrior | Upper class soldier | First class soldier | Second class soldier |
| Translation [2] [5] | First class master sergeant | Second class master sergeant | Third class master sergeant | Sergeant | Staff sergeant | Corporal | Private upper class | Private first class | Private |
 Republic of China Army [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 ROC Military Police [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 ROC Navy [3] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 ROC Marine Corps [1] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
 ROC Air Force [4] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
After the government of the Republic of China relocated to Taiwan in December 1949, the military rank system had a large reform in 1956. As a result, the contemporary rank structure is closer to the one used by the United States Armed Forces.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | 特級上將 | 一級上將 | 二級上將 | 中將 | 少將 | 代將 | 上校 | 中校 | 少校 | 上尉 | 中尉 | 少尉 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mandarin | Tèjí shàngjiàng | Yījí shàngjiàng | Èrjí shàngjiàng | Zhōngjiàng | Shàojiàng | Dàijiāng | Shàngxiào | Zhōngxiào | Shàoxiào | Shàngwèi | Zhōngwèi | Shàowèi | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1958–1980 [6] |  |  | | | | |  |  | |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–2000 [7] | Abolished | | | | | | | | | | | | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Soldiers | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 上士 | 中士 | 下士 | 上等兵 | 一等兵 | 二等兵 | |
| Shàng shì | Zhōng shì | Xiàshì | Shàngděngbīng | Yī děng bīng | Èrděngbīng | |
| Republic of China National Army [8] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The following table show comparative officer ranks of World War II, with the ranks of Allied powers, the major Axis powers and various other countries and co-belligerents during World War II.
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) has not always used ranks or insignia. In common with the practice of the Red Army at the time of its founding in 1927, neither were used until 1955 when a system of ranks was established. As a result of the Cultural Revolution, ranks were abolished in May 1965. After the Sino-Vietnamese War of 1979, reforms in the PLA began to be made to professionalize the armed forces once more. The 1984 Military Service Law provided for the resumption of rank, but disagreements on what ranks were to be used and who would receive them caused the revival of rank to be delayed until 1988. The following ranks and their respective insignia shown are those used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force.
The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy are similar to those of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Navy are prefixed by 海军 meaning Naval Force or Navy. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article on an individual rank for details on the evolution of rank and insignia in the PLAN. This article primarily covers the existing ranks and insignia.
The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Air Force are prefixed by 空军 meaning Air Force. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article on an individual rank for details on the evolution of rank and insignia in the PLAAF. This article primarily covers the existing ranks and insignia.
Bing is the rank usually held by enlisted personnel in some East Asian militaries. The ranks are used in both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, and both North and South Korea. The rank name is based on one of the four ancient occupations.
Wei is the rank held by company-grade officers in some East Asian militaries. The ranks are used in both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan, and both North and South Korea.
Xiao is the rank held by field officers in the militaries of China and Taiwan. The Chinese military (PLA) uses four grades while the Taiwanese military uses only three, with the rank equivalent to the fourth being treated as a general officer rank. This difference is found in other militaries as well: in the British Army a brigadier is considered a field officer, while the equivalent rank in the United States Army, brigadier general, is considered a general officer. The Chinese use the same rank names for all services, prefixed by hai jun or kong jun. While the Taiwanese military (ROC) does the same for enlisted ranks and company-grade officers, it has distinct names for the higher naval ranks.
Jiang, is a rank held by general officers in the armed forces of both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China on Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police use three levels at present while the Republic of China Armed Forces use four.
Rank comparison chart of armies and land forces of Asian states.
Rank comparison chart of air forces of Asian states.
Rank comparison chart of navies of Asian states.
Rank comparison chart of navies of Asian states.
Rank comparison chart of non-commissioned officers and other personnel for armies/ land forces of Asian states.
The Military ranks of the Kingdom of Italy were the military insignia used by the Italian Armed Forces when Italy was the Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946). During the World Wars, the Carabinieri, as the then-most senior corps of the Army, wore similar insignia to those used by the rest of the service.
The Military ranks of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia were the military insignia used by the Royal Yugoslav Armed Forces. It replaced the ranks of the Kingdom of Serbia following the unification of the Kingdom of Serbia into Kingdom SHS. After the proclamation of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, the ranks were replaced by the Yugoslav People's Army ranks.
Commissioned officers' and Enlisted rank comparison chart of all marine forces.
Shi 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.
The Military ranks of the Kingdom of Hungary were the military insignia used by the Kingdom of Hungary. Following the fall of the monarchy, the ranks were replaced with those of the Hungarian People's Army.
The Military ranks of the Kingdom of Romania were the military insignia used by the Kingdom of Romania. Following the abolition of the monarchy, the ranks were replaced with those of the Socialist Republic of Romania.
