尉
military officer, jailer, old man, rank
Readings
On'yomi
- イ
- ジョウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
尉 centers on an official position of authority or supervision: a military officer, a jailer, or an old man in a rank. The meanings share the idea of a person holding a formal, often supervisory, role.
Most common words using 尉
- 大尉たいい
captain (Army, US Marine Corps, USAF); lieutenant (Navy); flight lieutenant (RAF, RAAF, RNZAF, etc.)
- 中尉ちゅうい
first lieutenant; lieutenant junior grade
- 少尉しょうい
second lieutenant; sublieutenant; ensign
- 尉じょうN1
inspector (third highest of the four administrative ranks of the ritsuryō system)
- 准尉じゅんい
warrant officer
- 尉官いかん
officer below the rank of major; company officer
- 一尉いちい
captain (JASDF, JGSDF); lieutenant (senior grade; JMSDF)
- 三尉さんい
second lieutenant (JGSDF)
- 三等陸尉さんとうりくい
second lieutenant (JGSDF)
- 上級准尉じょうきゅうじゅんい
chief warrant officer
- 二尉にい
first lieutenant (JGSDF)
- 二等陸尉にとうりくい
first lieutenant (JGSDF)
- 准空尉じゅんくうい
warrant officer (JASDF)
- 海尉かいい
lower-grade officer rank (JMSDF)
- 白額尉鶲しろびたいじょうびたき
common redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
- 空尉くうい
(Self Defense Force's Air Force) captain (defence); lieutenant
- 空軍大尉くうぐんたいい
air force captain
- 高砂の尉と姥たかさごのじょうとうば
(Japanese) Darby and Joan
- 黒式尉こくしきじょう
noh mask used for old man roles (usu. black)
Study
Etymology
The origin of 尉 is not fully clear. It may combine 寸 (hand) with a component related to pressing or authority, but the exact historical development is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The top 尸 suggests a person, 示 hints at something shown or displayed, and 寸 is a hand. Imagine an old military officer showing his rank with a hand gesture: 尉 is an officer or jailer.
Reading mnemonic
For イ, picture an eagle (イーグル) perched on the officer's shoulder: eagle -> イ, and the eagle represents the officer's keen authority.