first lieutenant; lieutenant junior grade
Military rank; in the army/air force it corresponds to first lieutenant, and in the navy to lieutenant junior grade. The exact equivalent depends on the service branch.
He was promoted to first lieutenant last year.
He was promoted to first lieutenant in the army.
海軍の中尉として護衛艦に乗り組んでいる。
He serves aboard a destroyer as a lieutenant junior grade in the navy.
She was appointed first lieutenant at a young age.
中尉 and 少尉 differ by only one kanji and are easy to confuse, but 少尉 is the rank below 中尉 (second lieutenant/ensign).
Used for counting people, especially in formal or service contexts.
Compound of 中 (middle) and 尉 (military officer rank), following the traditional East Asian rank naming pattern.