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軍曹 (ぐんそう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

軍ぐん曹そう

ぐ

ん

そ

う

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

military

Military rank in the army or air force, equivalent to sergeant. Used in both historical and modern contexts.

彼かれは軍ぐん曹そうに昇しょう進しんした。
He was promoted to sergeant.
軍ぐん曹そうが部ぶ隊たいを指し揮きした。
The sergeant commanded the unit.

Kanji

軍army, force, troops
曹office, official, comrade

Similar words

曹そう長ちょう
曹長 is a higher rank, equivalent to sergeant major or master sergeant.
伍ご長ちょう
伍長 is a lower rank, equivalent to corporal.

Etymology

From 軍 (army) and 曹 (official, rank). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the compound has been used for the sergeant rank in modern Japanese military terminology.