How do you use "Sapper" in a sentence?

He served as a sapper in Afghanistan. The sappers cleared the minefield. Started as a sapper and made it to sergeant.

Sapper

Q: What does "Sapper" mean?

Military engineer; the lowest rank in Royal Engineers A private soldier in the Royal Engineers corps. Sappers dig trenches, build bridges, defuse bombs, and do technical military engineering work.

Slang Term BritishAustralian ★★☆☆☆ Uncommon Neutral

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Meaning: Military engineer; the lowest rank in Royal Engineers

军事工兵；皇家工兵部队的最低军衔

Ingeniero militar; el rango más bajo en los Ingenieros Reales

軍事工兵、王立工兵隊の最下位の階級

군사 공병, 왕립공병대의 최하위 계급

A private soldier in the Royal Engineers corps. Sappers dig trenches, build bridges, defuse bombs, and do technical military engineering work.

皇家工兵部队的列兵。工兵负责挖掘战壕、架设桥梁、排除炸弹和进行技术性军事工程工作。

Un soldado raso del cuerpo de Ingenieros Reales. Los zapadores cavan trincheras, construyen puentes, desactivan bombas y realizan trabajo técnico de ingeniería militar.

王立工兵隊の二等兵。工兵は塹壕を掘り、橋を架け、爆弾を処理し、技術的な軍事工学の仕事を行う。

왕립공병대의 일반 병사. 공병은 참호를 파고, 다리를 건설하고, 폭탄을 해체하며, 군사 공학 기술 업무를 수행한다.

Examples

He served as a sapper in Afghanistan.
他在阿富汗当工兵
Sirvió como zapador en Afganistán
彼はアフガニスタンで工兵として任務に就いた
그는 아프가니스탄에서 공병으로 복무했다.
The sappers cleared the minefield.
工兵们清除了雷区
Los zapadores limpiaron el campo de minas
工兵隊が地雷原を除去した
공병대가 지뢰밭을 제거했다.
Started as a sapper and made it to sergeant.
从工兵做起，升到了中士
Empezó como zapador y llegó a sargento
工兵から始めて軍曹まで昇進した
공병으로 시작해서 하사관까지 진급했다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: military

Tone: technical, military

✓ Do Say

Sapper Jones
工兵琼斯
Zapador Jones
ジョーンズ工兵
공병 존스
The sappers
工兵们
Los zapadores
工兵たち
공병들

✗ Don't Say

Specific to Royal Engineers
仅限于皇家工兵部队
Específico de los Ingenieros Reales
王立工兵隊に限定される用語
왕립공병대에 한정된 표현

Common Mistakes

Not knowing it's a rank

Origin & History

From French 'sapeur' (one who saps), referring to digging trenches or tunnels to undermine enemy fortifications. Royal Engineers soldiers have held the rank of Sapper since 1856.

Etymology: French sapeur (to dig, undermine)

First recorded: 17th century, rank title 1856

Cultural Context

Era: 17th century onwards

Generation: Military

Social background: Military

Pop culture: The English Patient (bomb disposal sapper)

Regional notes: British and Commonwealth military.

Variations

SapperSappers