# Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force

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 (this led to a similar reform in Albania in the midst of the Albanian Cultural and Ideological Revolution). 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.

## Current ranking system
### PLAGF officers

The current system of officer ranks and insignia, a revision of the ranks and insignia established in 1955, began usage in 1988. The 1955 to 1965 marshal officer ranks of yuánshuài (5-star Marshal) and dà yuánshuài (6-star grand marshal) were not revived. The general officer ranks (jiang) were revised by the addition of semi-circular wreath at the bottom of the insignia and by a change in the name of the highest general officer rank from da jiang (4-star General) to yi ji shang jiang (4-star first class colonel general). This highest rank in the new system was never held and was abolished in 1994. The field officer (Xiao) and company officer (Wei) ranks were the same in title and insignia except that highest company-level officer rank of Da Wei in the 1955 to 1965 system was not included in the revived ranks. The final difference between the two systems is that in 1955 to 1965 there existed a warrant officer rank, Zhun Wei, which was not incorporated in the revived rank system, while new system had a rank for officer cadets, Xue Yuan. Despite being the rank below Shao Wei in both systems, the insignia have no similarities.
Officer rank names are usually not translated literally, but rather to a corresponding rank system. This can lead to different translations being used depending on the system chosen for the correspondences. The 1955–1965 system, with its greater number of officer ranks, is usually translated using the Soviet rank system of that era, while the modern officer ranks are usually given a NATO rank correspondence. For example, the non-literal translation used for the rank of Shang Jiang (literally "senior general") depends on whether one is comparing it to Soviet or Russian ranks (colonel general) or to British or U.S. ranks (general).
| Title | 上将 Shang jiang | 中将 Zhong jiang | 少将 Shao jiang | 大校 Da xiao | 上校 Shang xiao | 中校 Zhong xiao | 少校 Shao xiao | 上尉 Shang wei | 中尉 Zhong wei | 少尉 Shao wei | 学员 Xue yuan |
| Equivalent translation | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Senior colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet |
| Shoulder insignia | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Collar insignia | | | | | | | | | | | |

### PLAGF other ranks personnel

The current system of other ranks and insignia dates from 2022.
Unlike NATO countries, new recruits of the People's Liberation Army have no military ranks before the boot camp is completed, and they will be awarded the rank of Private/Seaman Apprentice/Airman (All collectively called "Private" or "Lie Bing" in the Chinese language) after they have graduated from the boot camp. According to Article 16 of Chapter 3 of the "Regulations on the Service of Active Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" (Chinese: 中国人民解放军现役士兵服役条例), "The lowest enlisted rank is Private".
On February 27, 2022, the National People's Congress approved a new regulation which changes the previous Master sergeant fourth class(Chinese: 四级军士长) to Staff sergeant first class(Chinese: 一级上士).
| Rank group | 高级军士 Gao ji jun shi | 高级军士 Gao ji jun shi | 高级军士 Gao ji jun shi | 中级军士 Zhōng ji jun shi | 中级军士 Zhōng ji jun shi | 初级军士 Chu ji jun shi | 初级军士 Chu ji jun shi | 义务兵 Yi wu bing | 义务兵 Yi wu bing |
| Title | 一级军士长 Yi ji jun shi zhang | 二级军士长 Er ji jun shi zhang | 三级军士长 San ji jun shi zhang | 一级上士 Yī jí jūnshì | 二级上士 yi ji shang shi | 中士 Zhōng shi | 下士 Xia shi | 上等兵 Shang deng bing | 列兵 Lie bing |
| Equivalent translation | Master sergeant first class | Master sergeant second class | Master sergeant third class | Staff Sergeant First Class | Staff Sergeant Second Class | Sergeant | Corporal | Private first class | Private |
| Shoulder insignia | | | | | | | | | |
| Collar insignia | | | | | | | | | |

### Other military branches

The ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force generally has the same names, position and ranks as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, and their insignia correspond except Air Force ranks are on a light blue background instead of green.
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy also have corresponding insignia with a black background, but are only worn with the dress white uniforms, as only sleeve insignia are used in the dress blue uniform for officers, with other ranks retaining the shoulder board insignia.

## Historic ranks
### 1955–65 rank system

The PLA adopted ranks in 1955. The insignia used by officers from 1955 to 1965 by the PLA Ground Force were modelled on those used by the Soviet Army at the time and similar to the earlier Imperial Japanese Army on collar insignia, with the primary differences being the existence of an additional field officer rank, and the insignia of the highest general officer rank being four stars unlike the one large star used by the Soviet Armed Forces starting in 1963. The NCO insignia of that period showed Japanese influence with the use of stars on the collars with the specialty badge on the side. While general duties officers wore the shoulder board pattern shown below (gold and red), technical service officers sported white and red shoulder boards with their rank insignia. Ranks were abolished during the Cultural Revolution.

### Timeline of change
#### Officer ranks

| Rank group | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers |
| PLA Ground Force (1955–1965) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PLA Ground Force (1955–1965) vte | 大元帥 Da yuan shuai | 元帥 Yuan shuai | 大将 Dà jiàng | 上将 Shàngjiàng | 中将 Zhōngjiàng | 中将 Zhōngjiàng | 少将 Shàojiàng | 少将 Shàojiàng | 大校 Dàxiào | 上校 Shàngxiào | 中校 Zhōngxiào | 中校 Zhōngxiào | 少校 Shàoxiào | 少校 Shàoxiào | 大尉 Dàwèi | 上尉 Shàngwèi | 中尉 Zhōngwèi | 中尉 Zhōngwèi | 中尉 Zhōngwèi | 少尉 Shàowèi | 少尉 Shàowèi | 少尉 Shàowèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi |
| No ranks (1965–1985) |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No ranks (1985–1988) |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLA Ground Force (1988–1994) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PLA Ground Force (1988–1994) vte | | | 一级上将 Yī jí shàng jiàng | 上将 Shàngjiàng | 中将 Zhōngjiàng | 中将 Zhōngjiàng | 少将 Shàojiàng | 少将 Shàojiàng | 大校 Dàxiào | 上校 Shàngxiào | 中校 Zhōngxiào | 中校 Zhōngxiào | 少校 Shàoxiào | 少校 Shàoxiào | 上尉 Shàngwèi | 上尉 Shàngwèi | 中尉 Zhōngwèi | 中尉 Zhōngwèi | 中尉 Zhōngwèi | 少尉 Shàowèi | 少尉 Shàowèi | 少尉 Shàowèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi | 准尉 Zhǔnwèi |

#### Other ranks

| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| PLA Ground Force (1955–1965) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PLA Ground Force (1955–1965) vte | | | | | | | | | | | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng |
| No ranks (1965–1985) ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No ranks (1985–1988) ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PLA Ground Force (1988–1994) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PLA Ground Force (1988–1994) vte | | | | | | | 军士长 Jūn shì zhǎng | 军士长 Jūn shì zhǎng | 专业军士 Zhuān yè jūn shì | 专业军士 Zhuān yè jūn shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng |
| PLA Ground Force (1995–1999) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PLA Ground Force (1995–1999) vte | 四级军士长 Sì jí jūn shì zhǎng | 四级军士长 Sì jí jūn shì zhǎng | 四级专业军士 Sì jí zhuān yè jūn shì | 四级专业军士 Sì jí zhuān yè jūn shì | 三级军士长 Sān jí jūn shì zhǎng | 三级专业军士 Sān jí zhuān yè jūn shì | 二级军士长 Èr jí jūn shì zhǎng | 二级专业军士 Èr jí zhuān yè jūn shì | 一级军士长 Yī jí jūn shì zhǎng | 一级专业军士 Yī jí zhuān yè jūn shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 上士 Shàng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 下士 Xià shì | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng |
| PLA Ground Force (2000–2007) vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| PLA Ground Force (2000–2007) vte | 六级士官 Liu ji shi guan | 六级士官 Liu ji shi guan | 六级士官 Liu ji shi guan | 六级士官 Liu ji shi guan | 六级士官 Liu ji shi guan | 六级士官 Liu ji shi guan | 五级士官 Wu ji shi guan | 五级士官 Wu ji shi guan | 四级士官 Si ji shi guan | 四级士官 Si ji shi guan | 三级士官 San ji shi guan | 三级士官 San ji shi guan | 三级士官 San ji shi guan | 三级士官 San ji shi guan | 三级士官 San ji shi guan | 三级士官 San ji shi guan | 二级士官 Er ji shi guan | 二级士官 Er ji shi guan | 二级士官 Er ji shi guan | 二级士官 Er ji shi guan | 二级士官 Er ji shi guan | 二级士官 Er ji shi guan | 一级士官 Yi ji shi guan | 一级士官 Yi ji shi guan | 一级士官 Yi ji shi guan | 一级士官 Yi ji shi guan | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 上等兵 Shàngděngbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng | 列兵 Lièbīng |