How to say "infantry" in Japanese

• 歩兵ほへいCommon
  nounThe common word for infantry, covering both the branch as a whole and an individual infantryman or foot soldier; the usual choice in general military contexts.
  戦争せんそうの際さいには歩兵ほへいは取とるに足たらないものだ。↗

  The infantry soldier is only a pawn in the game of war.
• 徒歩軍かちいくさ
  nounA historical term for infantry or foot soldiers; in ordinary use it is seldom the word you want, turning up mainly in accounts of warfare in former times.
• 普通科ふつうか
  nounA less common term: the designation for infantry in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force; use it only when speaking of that force, and use 歩兵 for other armies' infantry.

Use 歩兵 for infantry in general, whether the branch or an individual soldier; 徒歩軍 is a historical term seldom needed today; 普通科 is the infantry designation of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 歩兵ほへいinfantry
• 徒歩軍かちいくさinfantry
• 普通科ふつうかinfantry (in the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force)