# Shi (rank)

Shi (Chinese: 士; Korean: 사; Hanja: 士) 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

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 | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | 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 soldier leader | Second-class soldier leader | Third-class soldier leader | Fourth-class soldier leader | Upper soldier | Middle soldier | Lower soldier |
| PLA Ground Force | | | | | | | |
| PLA Navy | | | | | | | |
| PLA Air Force | | | | | | | |
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers |

## Taiwan

| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | 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 officer leader | Second-class officer leader | Third-class officer leader | Upper officer | Middle officer | Lower officer |
| Republic of China Army | | | | | | |
| Republic of China Navy | | | | | | |
| Republic of China Air Force | | | | | | |
| Republic of China Marine Corps | | | | | | |
| | 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 | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers |

## Japan

| Rank group | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
| Japanese | 士長 | 1等士 | 2等士 |
| Romanization | Shichō | Ittō shi | Nitō shi |
| Literal translation | Officer leader | First-class officer | Second-class officer |
| Japan Ground Self-Defense Force | | | |
| Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force | | | |
| Japan Air Self-Defense Force | | | |
| Rank group | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |

## North Korea

| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | 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 officer | Upper officer | Middle officer | Lower officer | Upper-class soldier | Middle-class soldier | Lower-class soldier | Combat officer |
| KPA Ground Force | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. equivalent | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal | Private first class | Private |
| KPA Navy | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. equivalent | 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 | | | | | | | | |
| U.S. equivalent | 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 | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |

## South Korea

| Rank group | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | Non-commissioned officer | 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 | | | | |
| U.S. equivalent (Army) | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Staff sergeant |
| U.S. equivalent (Navy) | Master chief petty officer | Senior chief petty officer | Chief petty officer | Petty officer first class |
| U.S. equivalent (Air Force) | Chief master sergeant | Senior master sergeant | Master sergeant | Technical sergeant |
| U.S. equivalent (Marine Corps) | Sergeant major | Master sergeant | Gunnery sergeant | Staff sergeant |
| Rank group | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers | Non-commissioned officers |

## Vietnamese variant

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

### South Vietnamese variant

| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior 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 officer | Upper officer | First middle officer | Middle officer | First lower officer | Lower officer |
| Army of the Republic of Vietnam (1967-1975) | | | | | | |
| Translation | Master sergeant, first class | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Sergeant | Corporal major | Corporal |
| Republic of Vietnam Navy (1967-1975) | | | | | | |
| Translation | 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) | | | | | | |
| Translation | Master sergeant, first class | Master sergeant | Sergeant first class | Sergeant | Corporal major | Corporal |
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs |