Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Words Kanji Guides About

三等陸佐 (さんとうりくさ) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

三さん等とう陸りく佐さ

さ

ん

と

う

り

く

さ

Meanings

1

noun

military

A field officer rank in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, equivalent to a major in many Western armies.

彼かれは三さん等とう陸りく佐さに昇しょう進しんした。
He was promoted to major (JGSDF).
三さん等とう陸りく

佐さ

の

階かい

級きゅう

章しょう

は

二に

本ほん

線せん

と

桜さくら

星ぼし

一ひと

つ

だ

。

The rank insignia for a JGSDF major is two stripes and one cherry blossom star.

Written forms

三さん等とう陸りく佐さ
Standard kanji form for this JGSDF rank.
３さん等とう陸りく佐さ
Numerical variant using half-width ３; less common in formal contexts.

Kanji

三three
等etc., and so forth, class (first)
陸land, six
佐assistant, help

Similar words

少しょう佐さ
少佐 is the equivalent rank in the former Imperial Japanese Army and in some other contexts, while 三等陸佐 is specific to the JGSDF.
二に等とう陸りく佐さ
二等陸佐 is the next higher rank (lieutenant colonel) in the JGSDF.

Etymology

三等 (third class) + 陸佐 (ground force field officer). The JGSDF rank system uses numerical classes combined with branch-specific titles.