Chinese military terminology WWII

ADG_Wraith

Just Hatched
Registered Member
Hi everyone,

I'm an Australian and I'm researching the Sino-Japanese war in relation to WWII. However, my Mandarin is very basic and I can't read most of the traditional characters used at the time.

Can anyone help me out with common military terms from the time (I don't mind if there is a difference between CCP and KMT terminology, as long as whoever posts it tells me which it is!)

Terms that I am most after:
Platoon
Company
Battalion
Infantry
Artillery
AT Gun
Machine Gun
Tank/Armour
Armoured car
Aircraft (Ground attack varieties)
Mortar
Cavalry

Any help would be appreciated, and if there are any more terms that are common, I'd love to hear them. There's unfortunately not many references to Chinese involvement in WWII outside of the Flying Tigers and Gen Stillwell, and the Americans are notorious for not detailing their allies' involvement!

Cheers guys!
 

lightspeed

Junior Member
I'm an Australian and I'm researching the Sino-Japanese war in relation to WWII. However, my Mandarin is very basic and I can't read most of the traditional characters used at the time.

Can anyone help me out with common military terms from the time (I don't mind if there is a difference between CCP and KMT terminology, as long as whoever posts it tells me which it is!)

the terms were different back then?

try google translate.
 

ABC78

Junior Member
Here are some books to checkout that have most of the terms your looking for as well as ranks.

The Chinese Army 1937–49
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The Chinese People’s Liberation Army since 1949
Osprey Publishing - The Chinese People

Chinese Civil War Armies 1911–49
Osprey Publishing - Chinese Civil War Armies 1911

Chinese Warlord Armies 1911–30
Osprey Publishing - Chinese Warlord Armies 1911

The Chinese Civil War 1945–49
Osprey Publishing - The Chinese Civil War 1945

Here's the Chinese translator I use.
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Or watch more Chinese War movies that's how I learned to pick out some of the words.
 
Last edited:

ahadicow

Junior Member
just eyeballing


Platoon 排
Company 连
Battalion 旅
Infantry 步兵
Artillery 火炮
AT Gun 反坦克炮
Machine Gun 机枪
Tank/Armour 坦克
Armoured car 装甲车
Aircraft (Ground attack varieties) 飞行器 (对地攻击型)
Mortar 迫击炮
Cavalry 轻骑兵
 
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