兵長
へいちょう · heichou (also spelled heicho)
Leading private (Imperial Japanese Army), leading seaman (Imperial Japanese Navy)
Other ways to say “leading private” in Japanese →
high first, then falls · what is pitch accent?
How it’s used
Refers to a military rank in the Imperial Japanese Army/Navy, now often encountered in historical contexts or manga/anime.
Often confused with "gunzou" (petty officer), but heichou is lower-ranking.
Example sentences
兵長は部下を集めて命令を伝えた。
The leading private gathered his subordinates and conveyed the order.
Nihoner
彼は五年前に兵長に昇進した。
He was promoted to the rank of leading private five years ago.
Nihoner
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Questions
What does 兵長 mean?
Leading private (Imperial Japanese Army), leading seaman (Imperial Japanese Navy).
How do you pronounce 兵長?
へいちょう (heichou). Pitch accent: atamadaka — high first, then falls. Press Listen above to hear it.
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