兵隊
へいたい · heitai · JLPT N2 · noun
soldier
🪖 兵 = soldier, 隊 = squad: a soldier is a member of a squad, so 兵隊 = soldier
兵 means soldier or troops, and 隊 means squad or group. Together they give 兵隊, the everyday word for a soldier, pronounced heitai.
兵 — axe 斤 + two hands 廾
Originally a pictograph of two hands gripping an axe or weapon, depicting a soldier wielding arms. The ancient form clearly showed 斤 (axe) held by 廾 (two hands). The meaning naturally extended from 'weapon' to 'soldier,' 'troops,' and 'military.'