Military Ranks of China 🇨🇳
Back to Ranks List
The armed forces of China, known as the "People's Liberation Army" (PLA), are among the largest and most powerful military forces in the world. The PLA consists of several branches, each with specific roles and responsibilities:
- People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF): The PLAGF is responsible for land-based military operations. It includes infantry, armored units, artillery, and support units. It plays a crucial role in national defense and territorial integrity.
- People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN): The PLAN focuses on maritime defense and security, operating a variety of vessels, including aircraft carriers, submarines, surface ships, and patrol boats. It is responsible for safeguarding China's extensive coastline and maritime interests in the South China Sea and beyond.
- People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF): The PLAAF is responsible for aerial defense and operations. It operates fighter aircraft, transport planes, and helicopters, ensuring air superiority and national defense.
- People's Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF): The PLARF oversees China's missile forces, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), which form a critical part of China's nuclear deterrent.
- People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF): The PLASSF focuses on electronic warfare, cyber operations, and space-based capabilities, providing support for the PLA's modern warfare needs.
Chinese Air Force
| Rank name |
Insignia |
NATO code |
US Army equivalent |
| 空军上将 Kōngjūn shang jiang |
|
OF-9 |
General |
| 空军中将 Kōngjūn zhong jiang |
|
OF-8 |
Lieutenant General |
| 空军少将 Kōngjūn shao jiang |
|
OF-7 |
Major General |
| 空军大校 Kōngjūn da xiao |
|
OF-6 |
Brigadier General |
| 空军上校 Kōngjūn shang xiao |
|
OF-5 |
Colonel |
| 空军中校 Kōngjūn zhong xiao |
|
OF-4 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| 空军少校 Kōngjūn shao xiao |
|
OF-3 |
Major / Commandant |
| 空军上尉 Kōngjūn shang wei |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| 空军中尉 Kōngjūn zhong wei |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| 空军少尉 Kōngjūn shao wei |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| 空军学员 Kōngjūn xue yuan |
|
OF-D |
Student Officer |
| 空军一级军士长 Kōngjūn yi ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| 空军二级军士长 Kōngjūn er ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-8 |
1st Sergeant |
| 空军三级军士长 Kōngjūn san ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-7 |
Sergeant 1st Class |
| 空军四级军士长 Kōngjūn si ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-6 |
Staff Sergeant |
| 空军上士 Kōngjūn shang shi |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| 空军中士 Kōngjūn zhong shi |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| 空军下士 Kōngjūn xia shi |
|
OR-4 |
Corporal |
| 空军上等兵 Kōngjūn shang deng bing |
|
OR-3 |
Private 1st Class |
| 空军列兵 Kōngjūn lie bing |
|
OR-1 |
Private |
Chinese Army
| Rank name |
Insignia |
NATO code |
US Army equivalent |
| 上将 Shang jiang |
|
OF-9 |
General |
| 中将 Zhong jiang |
|
OF-8 |
Lieutenant General |
| 少将 Shao jiang |
|
OF-7 |
Major General |
| 大校 Da xiao |
|
OF-6 |
Brigadier General |
| 上校 Shang xiao |
|
OF-5 |
Colonel |
| 中校 Zhong xiao |
|
OF-4 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| 少校 Shao xiao |
|
OF-3 |
Major / Commandant |
| 上尉 Shang wei |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| 中尉 Zhong wei |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| 少尉 Shao wei |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| 学员 Xue yuan |
|
OF-D |
Student Officer |
| 一级军士长 Yi ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| 二级军士长 Er ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-8 |
1st Sergeant |
| 三级军士长 San ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-7 |
Sergeant 1st Class |
| 四级军士长 Si ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-6 |
Staff Sergeant |
| 上士 Shang shi |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| 中士 Zhong shi |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| 下士 Xia shi |
|
OR-4 |
Corporal |
| 上等兵 Shang deng bing |
|
OR-3 |
Private 1st Class |
| 列兵 Lie bing |
|
OR-1 |
Private |
Chinese Navy
| Rank name |
Insignia |
NATO code |
US Army equivalent |
| 海军上将 Hǎijūn shang jiang |
|
OF-9 |
General |
| 海军中将 Hǎijūn zhong jiang |
|
OF-8 |
Lieutenant General |
| 海军少将 Hǎijūn shao jiang |
|
OF-7 |
Major General |
| 海军大校 Hǎijūn da xiao |
|
OF-6 |
Brigadier General |
| 海军上校 Hǎijūn shang xiao |
|
OF-5 |
Colonel |
| 海军中校 Hǎijūn zhong xiao |
|
OF-4 |
Lieutenant Colonel |
| 海军少校 Hǎijūn shao xiao |
|
OF-3 |
Major / Commandant |
| 海军上尉 Hǎijūn shang wei |
|
OF-2 |
Captain / 1st Lieutenant |
| 海军中尉 Hǎijūn zhong wei |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| 海军少尉 Hǎijūn shao wei |
|
OF-1 |
Lieutenant |
| 海军学员 Hǎijūn xue yuan |
|
OF-D |
Student Officer |
| 海军一级军士长 Hǎijūn yi ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| 海军二级军士长 Hǎijūn er ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-9 |
Sergeant Major |
| 海军三级军士长 Hǎijūn san ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-8 |
1st Sergeant |
| 海军四级军士长 Hǎijūn si ji jun shi zhang |
|
OR-7 |
Sergeant 1st Class |
| 海军上士 Hǎijūn shang shi |
|
OR-6 |
Staff Sergeant |
| 海军中士 Hǎijūn zhong shi |
|
OR-5 |
Sergeant |
| 海军下士 Hǎijūn xia shi |
|
OR-4 |
Corporal |
| 海军上等兵 Hǎijūn shang deng bing |
|
OR-3 |
Private 1st Class |
| 海军列兵 Hǎijūn lie bing |
|
OR-2 |
Private |