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上尉 (shàng wèi) — captain, lieutenant (military rank)

Definition

In the PLA (and many Western armies) 上尉 is the rank between 少尉 and 少校 — a junior officer leading a company/platoon. Note: depending on context it can correspond to 'captain' (PLA, US Army) or 'lieutenant' (navy).

noun
captainlieutenant (military rank)
Measure word · 位

Examples

  • 上尉。
    Tā shì yí wèi yōu xiù de shàng wèi.
    He is an excellent captain.
  • 上尉。
    shàng wèi Mìng lìng shì bīng men lì kè chū fā.
    The captain ordered the soldiers to depart immediately.
  • 上尉。
    Zhè wèi shàng wèi zài zhàn chǎng shàng biǎo xiàn yīng yǒng.
    This captain performed bravely on the battlefield.

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shàngupper
尉wèiofficer

上 points to the upper rank and 尉 to an officer grade, together naming a company-grade officer.

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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The form 尉 is made of 𡰥, 寸 (hand), and 火 (fire); the meaning of 𡰥 is unclear.

Open 尉 →
Appears in
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