二に等とう兵へい

noun

private (military rank); recruit

Lowest enlisted rank in the Imperial Japanese Army and Navy; equivalent to private, seaman, or aircraftman depending on branch. Historical term; modern JSDF uses different rank names.

• 彼かれは入にゅう隊たいしたばかりの二に等とう兵へいだった。

  He was a newly enlisted private.

• 二に等とう兵へいから一いっ等とう兵へいに昇しょう進しんした。

  He was promoted from private to private first class.