Japanese word

中将

Pronunciation

Romajichūjō

Meaning

  • nounlieutenant general

Example

彼は中将です。kare wa chū jō de su

He is a lieutenant general.

Illustration for 中将 (lieutenant general)

More examples

会議では、中将が作戦の説明をしました。kai gi de wa chū jō ga saku sen no setsu mei o shi ma shi ta

At the meeting, the lieutenant general explained the strategy.

Core concept

Refers to a senior officer rank just below the highest general rank in the army or air force and to its equivalent in the navy.

Common phrases

  • 中将に昇進するchū jō ni shō shin su ru

    be promoted to lieutenant general

  • 中将を務めるchū jō o tsuto me ru

    serve as a lieutenant general

Similar words

大将taishō: The highest regular general rank in the army or air force.
少将shōshō: A general rank between lieutenant general and brigadier general in some military systems.
将官shōkan: A broad term for officers who hold general ranks in the military.
准将junshō: A general officer rank below major general and above colonel in some military systems.

Definition in Japanese

陸軍や空軍では大将に次ぐ将官、海軍ではそれと同じ位置付けの将官を表す語。riku gun ya kū gun de wa tai shō ni tsu gu shō kan kai gun de wa so re to ona ji i chi tsu ke no shō kan o arawa su go

Word origin

The word 中将 (chūjō) joins 中 (chū, "middle") with 将 (shō, "commander"), so its form presents the rank as an intermediate level of military command.

Usage tips

  • When describing a person's rank in English, the article a appears in He is a lieutenant general, while Japanese uses 中将です (chūjō desu) without an article.

Other meanings

  • vice-admiralnoun

Word lists with this word