Original phonetic: /haː²² siː²²/
corporal (U.S. and British Army, British Air Force, U.S. and British Marine Corps)
petty officer third class (U.S. Navy)
petty officer second class (British Navy)
person, especially a member of the educated social classes, who is of inferior standing, intelligence, or ethics
Examples
下士聞道大笑之。不笑不足以為道。
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.
to move an adviser (士) back one step diagonally
to display humility and respect towards lower-class persons
Examples
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。
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.