下士

下士

1. corporal (U.S. and British Army, British Air Force, U.S. and British Marine Corps)
2. petty officer third class (U.S. Navy)
3. petty officer second class (British Navy)
4. (archaic) person, especially a member of the educated social classes, who is of inferior standing, intelligence, or ethics

   • 下士聞道大笑之。不笑不足以為道。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     下士闻道大笑之。不笑不足以为道。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Tao Te Ching, 4^th century BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

     Xiàshì wén dào dàxiào zhī. Bù xiào bùzúyǐ wéi dào. [Pinyin]

     Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about the Dao, laugh greatly at it. If it were not thus laughed at, it would not be fit to be the Dao.

下士

1. (xiangqi) to move an adviser (士) back one step diagonally

• 上士 (shàngshì)

Literally, "to lower oneself to the level of the shi (low-ranking persons just above the commoners)". Typically refers to efforts of promoting or socialising with people without discrimination regarding social hierarchy.

下士

1. (literary, obsolete, of a high-ranking individual) to display humility and respect towards lower-class persons

   • 公子為人仁而下士，士無賢不肖皆謙而禮交之，不敢以其富貴驕士。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     公子为人仁而下士，士无贤不肖皆谦而礼交之，不敢以其富贵骄士。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Records of the Grand Historian, by Sima Qian, c. 91 BCE

     Gōngzǐ wéirén rén ér xiàshì, shì wú xián bùxiào jiē qiān ér lǐ jiāo zhī, bùgǎn yǐ qí fùguì jiāo shì. [Pinyin]

     The Prince is kind and treats the shi with respect. He deals with them with humility and the appropriate manners regardless of their standing or ability. He is especially careful not to behave patronizingly out of his own status and wealth.

• IPA^(key): [ka̠ɕi]

下(か)士(し) • (kashi) 

1. a person of poor upbringing and character
2. a low ranking samurai

• 上(じょう)士(し) (jōshi)

下士

1. chữ Hán form of hạ sĩ (“corporal”).