士兵 shìbīng soldier
How to remember 士兵: 士 scholar + 兵 soldier = soldier.
Characters
How it is used
- A rank-and-file soldier / enlisted man: 一名士兵 (yī míng shìbīng) a soldier; measure word 名.
- Contrast 军人 (jūnrén), any military serviceperson including officers, and 战士 (zhànshì), 'fighter' with a heroic tinge; 士兵 specifically means the ordinary troops, not the commanders.
- Neutral, standard word in news and military description.
Example sentences
- 士兵在执行一项任务。 Shìbīng zài zhíxíng yī xiàng rènwu.The soldiers are on a mission.
- 士兵们占领了这个建筑。 Shìbīng men zhànlǐng le zhège jiànzhù.The soldiers occupied the building.
- 士兵们失去了战斗的勇气。 Shìbīng men shīqù le zhàndòu de yǒngqì.The soldiers lost the courage to fight.