TongTong
Sign in

上将 (shàng jiàng) — top military rank (equivalent to general, admiral, or air chief marshal)

Definition

上将 (shàngjiàng) is the highest general-officer rank in the PLA — above 中将 (lieutenant general) and 少将 (major general). Roughly equivalent to a four-star general in the US Army or a full admiral.

noun
top military rank (equivalent to general, admiral, or air chief marshal)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 上将。
    Zhè wèi shàng jiàng cān jiā guò hěn duō zhòng yào zhàn yì.
    This general has participated in many important battles.
  • 上将。
    Tā bèi jìn shēng wéi shàng jiàng.
    He was promoted to the rank of general.
  • 上将。
    Zhōng guó de shàng jiàng jūn xián yǔ yì xiē guó jiā de zuì gāo jūn xián xiāng dāng.
    China's rank of general is equivalent to the highest rank in some countries.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

上shànghighest
将jiānggeneral

“上” (highest) describes “将” (general), giving a top general.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 將; 将 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
爿
爿pán將jiāng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 將 combines 爿, which also supplies a sound and may show a small table, with ⺼ (meat) and 寸 (hand) to picture offering meat as tribute. The simplified 将 is a later shorthand.

Open 将 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.