Chinese word

小卒

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiǎo zú

Meaning

  • nounlow-ranking soldier

Example

别看他是个小卒，也很能干。bié kàn tā shì gè xiǎo zú yě hěn néng gàn

Don't look down on him just because he's a low-ranking soldier; he's quite capable too.

Illustration for 小卒 (low-ranking soldier)

More examples

在古代战场，一名无名小卒的生死常常取决于阵势。zài gǔ dài zhàn chǎng yì míng wú míng xiǎo zú de shēng sǐ cháng cháng qǔ jué yú zhèn shì

On ancient battlefields, an unknown soldier's life or death often depended on the battle formation.

Core concept

A minor member of a larger force, with little authority and routine duties, whether in an army or an organization.

Common phrases

  • 无名小卒wú míng xiǎo zú

    unknown soldier

  • 区区小卒qū qū xiǎo zú

    insignificant soldier

Similar words

士兵shì bīng: A soldier in the armed forces who carries out combat or other assigned duties.
兵bīng: A person who takes part in war or other military activities.
战士zhàn shì: A soldier or fighter who serves in combat or defense and is expected to show courage.
军人jūn rén: A person who serves in the armed forces as a member of the military.

Definition in Chinese

指军中下层的普通士兵，职责有限且多承担杂务；引申为社会或组织中地位低微的人。zhǐ jūn zhōng xià céng de pǔ tōng shì bīng zhí zé yǒu xiàn qiě duō chéng dān zá wù yǐn shēn wèi shè huì huò zǔ zhī zhōng dì wèi dī wēi de rén

Word origin

小卒 (xiǎozú, "low-ranking soldier") places 小 (xiǎo, "small") before 卒 (zú, "soldier") to mark reduced rank, then extends that image to people with little power in a group.

Usage tips

  • When it describes someone outside the military, the word highlights rank and dependence, so the tone can sound belittling even when it only describes a position.

Other meanings

  • underlingnoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word