Chinese word

参军

Pronunciation

Pinyincān jūn

Meaning

  • verbjoin the army

Example

他去年参军了。tā qù nián cān jūn le

He joined the army last year.

Illustration for 参军 (join the army)

More examples

高中毕业后，他决定主动参军，不马上上大学。gāo zhōng bì yè hòu tā jué dìng zhǔ dòng cān jūn bù mǎ shàng shàng dà xué

After graduating from high school, he decided to join the army voluntarily instead of going straight to college.

Core concept

The step of joining the armed forces and taking on a soldier's role.

Common phrases

  • 主动参军zhǔ dòng cān jūn

    voluntarily join the army

  • 应征参军yìng zhēng cān jūn

    enlist in the army

Similar words

入伍rù wǔ: Officially entering the military to become a soldier.
当兵dāng bīng: Serving as a soldier, in everyday speech.
应征入伍yìng zhēng rù wǔ: Joining the military after responding to a call for volunteers or recruits.

Definition in Chinese

加入军队，成为士兵或开始服兵役。jiā rù jūn duì chéng wéi shì bīng huò kāi shǐ fú bīng yì

Word origin

参军 (cānjūn, "join the army") combines 参 (cān, "take part") with 军 (jūn, "the military"), so its structure points to taking part in military service.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, this verb often sounds more formal than casual descriptions of military service, so it is especially natural in biographies, announcements, and other formal accounts.

Other meanings

  • serve in the militaryverb

Opposites

  • 退伍tuì wǔleave the militaryverb

Word lists with this word