自 衛 官(じえいかん)

じえいかん

noun

Self-Defense Forces member; SDF personnel

1. Self-Defense Forces member; SDF personnel

A member of Japan's Self-Defense Forces (自衛隊(じえいたい)) — the term used in place of 'soldier' for Japan's uniformed personnel.

兄(あに)は自衛官(じえいかん)だ。

My older brother is an SDF member.

自衛官(じえいかん)が被災地(ひさいち)で救助(きゅうじょ)活動(かつどう)を行(おこな)った。

SDF personnel carried out rescue operations in the disaster area.

自衛官(じえいかん)になるには、採用(さいよう)試験(しけん)に合格(ごうかく)しなければならない。

To become an SDF member, you must pass the recruitment examination.

A member of the 自衛隊(じえいたい) (Japan Self-Defense Forces). Because Japan's constitution renounces war, members are called 自衛官(じえいかん) rather than 兵士(へいし) (soldier).

Common collocations

自衛官(じえいかん)になる: to become an SDF member
現役(げんえき)自衛官(じえいかん): an active-duty SDF member

Similar words

自衛隊(じえいたい): the Self-Defense Forces (the organization itself)
兵士(へいし): soldier — the general word, avoided for Japan's own forces

Related Words

Compare: 自衛隊(じえいたい) (the Self-Defense Forces)

Compare: 兵士(へいし) (soldier)

Related: 軍人(ぐんじん) (military personnel, soldier)

general

Added 2026.5.24 11:02 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

27500/27993_jieikan