Japanese word

士官

Pronunciation

Romajishikan

Meaning

  • nouncommissioned officer

Example

彼は海軍の士官です。kare wa kai gun no shi kan de su

He is a commissioned officer in the navy.

Illustration for 士官 (commissioned officer)

More examples

彼女は士官として長年任務に就いています。kano jo wa shi kan to shi te naga nen nin mu ni tsu i te i ma su

She has served as an officer for many years.

Core concept

The core is a military role whose authority comes from formal appointment and includes command.

Common phrases

  • 空軍の士官kū gun no shi kan

    air force officer

  • 士官の制服shi kan no sei fuku

    officer's uniform

  • 士官として働くshi kan to shi te hatara ku

    work as an officer

Similar words

将校shōkō: A general term for a commissioned military officer, often used in formal or historical contexts.

Definition in Japanese

軍隊で、任命を受けて指揮や統率の権限を持つ職にある者。gun tai de nin mei o u ke te shi ki ya tō sotsu no ken gen o mo tsu shoku ni a ru mono

Word origin

The Japanese compound 士官 (shikan) combines 士 (shi, "warrior") and 官 (kan, "official"), giving the sense of an appointed military official.

Usage tips

  • In English-speaking militaries, commissioned officer contrasts with non-commissioned officer because the former receives a formal commission, while the latter does not.

Other meanings

  • officernoun

Opposites

  • 下士官kashikannoncommissioned officernoun

Word lists with this word