Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 士兵 | shìbīng |
| 兵 | bīng |
| 軍人 / 军人 | jūnrén |
| 戰士 / 战士 | zhànshì |
The term for a member of an army can be expressed in several ways depending on the context. To say 'to serve in the army' or 'to be a soldier' colloquially, use 当兵.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 士兵 is composed of 士 (scholar/gentleman/person of status) and 兵 (soldier/weapon), which literally means a person of the military.
Which one should you use?
While 士兵 refers specifically to a low-ranking soldier, 军人 is a broader and more formal term for all military personnel. The form 战士 is used in a more heroic, literary or ideological sense, similar to the English words 'warrior' or 'combatant.' Additionally, the single character 兵 can function as a noun meaning soldier or troops, but it is more frequently found in classical Chinese or fixed idioms.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan, the word 軍人 can be used to refer to a soldier.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
shìbīng
Did you know?
- The character 兵 is visually composed of two hands holding an axe, which was a primary weapon in ancient warfare.
- In modern Chinese, the word 战士 is often used metaphorically to describe people fighting for a social cause or a political ideal, not just in a literal war.
- The character 兵 is a linguistic 'double agent' that can mean both the person fighting and the weapon they are using.
Examples in context
- 你當過兵嗎？Were you a soldier?This sentence is useful for asking if someone has served in the military using 兵.Tatoeba #6064661 by verdastelo9604, translation #2647822 by CK
- 胜败是兵家常事。Both victory and defeat are but an everyday occurrence to a soldier.This sentence uses the idiom with 兵 to show how victory and defeat are common to soldiers.Tatoeba #564633 by GlossaMatik, translation #564634 by FeuDRenais
- 這名士兵被授予紫心勳章。This soldier was awarded the Purple Heart.This sentence demonstrates the use of the formal term 士兵 in a sentence about an award.Tatoeba #13539910 by LeviHighway, translation #5680617 by Hybrid
- 他是一名优秀的士兵。He is an excellent soldier.
- 那个兵年轻而勇敢。That soldier is young and brave.
- 他是一位台湾的軍人。He is a soldier from Taiwan.
- 佢係一個勇敢嘅軍人。He is a brave soldier.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Zhiqiang and Zihan are watching a movie about war.
- 志强 Zhiqiang那個士兵看起來很年輕。Nàge shìbīng kàn qǐlái hěn niánqīng.That soldier looks very young.
- 梓涵 Zihan是的，他可能才十八歲。Shì de, tā kěnéng cái shíbā suì.Yes, he might be only eighteen.
- 志强 Zhiqiang士兵們在森林裡行軍。Shìbīngmen zài sēnlín lǐ xíngjūn.The soldiers are marching in the forest.
- 梓涵 Zihan這場戲拍得很緊張。Zhè chǎng xì pāi dé hěn jǐnzhāng.This scene was filmed very tensely.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “soldier” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 兵, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
