下士 Traditional form: 下士 Pinyin (reading): xiàshì Definitions: lowest-ranked noncommissioned officer (e.g. corporal in the army or petty officer, third class in the navy) Characters: 下 - below, underneath; inferior; to bring down; next 士 - scholar, gentleman; soldier Traditional characters: 下 - below, underneath; inferior; to bring down; next 士 - scholar, gentleman; soldier