officer

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 尉 is an eleven-stroke character used in names of officer ranks.
• Basic usage: 大尉(たいい) means captain, while 中尉(ちゅうい) means first lieutenant.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• The reading of 尉 in rank names
  • 大尉 is read たいい, with い following たい. It is used for a character leading soldiers in a story or a rank named in a diagram.
  • 中尉 is read ちゅうい, with 尉 again contributing い. It refers to a first lieutenant named in a roster or delivering orders.