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三等陸曹 (さんとうりくそう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

三さん等とう陸りく曹そう

Meanings

1

noun

sergeant (JGSDF); sergeant second class

military

A specific rank in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, equivalent to a sergeant or sergeant second class in some English-speaking armies.

彼かれは三さん等とう陸りく曹そうに昇しょう進しんした。
He was promoted to sergeant (JGSDF).
三さん等とう陸りく曹そうは下か士し官かんの一ひとつです。
Sergeant (JGSDF) is one of the non-commissioned officer ranks.

Written forms

三さん等とう陸りく曹そう
Standard kanji spelling for this JGSDF rank.
３さん等とう陸りく曹そう
Variant using numeral ３ instead of 三; seen in some official contexts.

Kanji

三three
等etc., and so forth, class (first)

陸land, six

曹office, official, comrade

Similar words

軍ぐん曹そう
軍曹 is a general term for sergeant in military contexts, while 三等陸曹 is specific to the JGSDF rank structure.
曹そう長ちょう
曹長 is a higher NCO rank (sergeant major) in the JGSDF, above 三等陸曹.

Etymology

Compound of 三等 (third class) and 陸曹 (ground force non-commissioned officer), reflecting the JGSDF rank system.