Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force

PLAGF officers

The current system of officer ranks and insignia, a revision of the ranks and insignia established in 1955, began use in 1988. The 1955–1965 marshal officer ranks of Yuánshuài (Marshal) and Dà Yuánshuài (Grand Marshal) were not revived. The general officer ranks (Jiang) were revised by the addition of semi-circular wreath at the bottom of the insignia and by a change in the name of the highest general officer rank from Da Jiang (General of the Army) to 一級上將 Yi Ji Shang Jiang (literally: First Class Senior General). This highest rank in the new system was never held and was abolished in 1994. The field officer (Xiao) and company officer (Wei) ranks were the same in title and insignia except that highest company-level officer rank of Da Wei in the 1955–1965 system was not included in the revived ranks. The final difference between the two systems is that in 1955–1965 there existed a warrant officer rank, Zhun Wei, which was not incorporated in the revived rank system, while new system had a rank for officer cadets, Xue Yuan. Despite being the rank below Shao Wei in both systems, the insignia have no similarities.

Officer rank names are usually not translated literally, but rather to a corresponding rank system. This can lead to different translations being used depending on the system chosen for the correspondences. The 1955–1965 system, with its greater number of officer ranks, is usually translated using the Soviet rank system of that era, while the modern officer ranks are usually given a NATO rank correspondence. For example, the non-literal translation used for the rank of Shang Jiang (literally: Senior General) depends on whether one is comparing it to Soviet or Russian ranks (Colonel General) or to British or American ranks (General).

Title	学员 Xue Yuan	少尉 Shao Wei	中尉 Zhong Wei	上尉 Shang Wei	少校 Shao Xiao	中校 Zhong Xiao	上校 Shang Xiao	大校 Da Xiao	少将 Shao Jiang	中将 Zhong Jiang	上将 Shang Jiang
Usual Translation	Officer Cadet (OF-D)	2nd Lieutenant (OF-1)	Lieutenant (OF-1)	Captain (OF-2)	Major (OF-3)	Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4)	Colonel (OF-5)	Colonel Commandant (OF-6)	Major General (OF-7)	Lieutenant General (OF-8)	General (OF-9)
Shoulder Insignia
Collar Insignia

PLAGF enlisted personnel

The current system of enlisted ranks and insignia dates from 2009.^[1]

Title	列兵 Lie Bing	上等兵 Shang Deng Bing	下士 Xia Shi	中士 Zhong Shi	上士 Shang Shi	四级军士长 Si Ji Jun Shi Zhang	三级军士长 San Ji Jun Shi Zhang	二级军士长 Er Ji Jun Shi Zhang	一级军士长 Yi Ji Jun Shi Zhang
Usual Translation	Private (OR-1)	Private 1st Class (OR-2)	Lance Corporal (OR-3)	Corporal (OR-4)	Sergeant (OR-5)	Chief Sergeant 4th Class (OR-6)	Chief Sergeant 3rd Class (OR-7)	Chief Sergeant 2nd Class (OR-8)	Chief Sergeant 1st Class (OR-9)
Shoulder Insignia
Collar Insignia

Other Military Branches

The People's Liberation Army Air Force generally has the same names, position and ranks as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, however, and their insignia correspond except Air Force ranks have light blue fimbriations instead of green (red is now only used in ceremonial occasions).

Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy also correspond, except with dark blue fimbriations, but now only worn with the dress white uniform as only sleeve insignia are used in the dress blue uniform only for officers with ratings retaining the shoulder board insignia.

Officers

Equivalent NATO code	OF-10		OF-9		OF-8		OF-7		OF-6		OF-5		OF-4		OF-3		OF-2		OF-1						OF(D) and student officer
China
	Grand Marshal of the PRC	Marshal of the PRC	Senior General 大将	General 上将	Lieutenant General 中将		Major General 少将		Colonel Commandant 大校		Colonel 上校		Lieutenant colonel 中校		Major 少校		Captain 大尉		First lieutenant 上尉		Second Lieutenant 中尉		Junior Lieutenant 少尉		Aspirant 准尉

Enlisted personnel

Rank category	Rank	Shoulder board insignia	Collar insignia
NCOs	Staff Sergeant	No shoulder insignia
	Sergeant
	Corporal
Privates	Private First Class
	Private