(ほうへい)

ほうへい
noun
artillery, artilleryman
1. artillery, artilleryman, artillery soldier
A military branch or soldier specialized in operating large-caliber weapons such as cannons and howitzers. Can refer to either the branch of the military or an individual soldier.
砲兵(ほうへい)部隊(ぶたい)配置(はいち)された。
An artillery unit was deployed.
砲兵(ほうへい)による支援(しえん)射撃(しゃげき)(おこな)われた。
Supporting fire was carried out by the artillery.
歴史(れきし)授業(じゅぎょう)で、ナポレオンが砲兵(ほうへい)士官(しかん)だったことを(まな)んだ。
In history class, I learned that Napoleon was an artillery officer.

WORD FORMATION:
(ほう) (cannon, artillery piece) + (へい) (soldier, troops).

USAGE:
Appears in historical texts, military discussions, and news about armed conflicts. In modern Japanese 自衛隊(じえいたい), the equivalent is 特科(とっか) (special branch/artillery).

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 歩兵(ほへい): infantry
  • 騎兵(きへい): cavalry
  • 工兵(こうへい): combat engineers

COMMON COLLOCATIONS:

  • 砲兵(ほうへい)部隊(ぶたい): artillery unit
  • 砲兵(ほうへい)陣地(じんち): artillery position
  • 砲兵(ほうへい)士官(しかん): artillery officer