TLS - 漢學文典

Criteria

VARIABLE

甲乙丙 are currently used as variables ranging over persons in legal texts, and also in mathematical texts like JIUZHANG. The analysis of the use of variables in mathematical texts is obviously of great importance. An abstract term for a variable does not exist in Chinese, and neither does it in Greek, where Aristotle made extensive and highly systematic use of variables which stand for predicates.
ARMOUR

[GENERAL/SPECIFIC]

1. The dominant general term is jiǎ 甲 and this armour is typically made of rhinoceros leather.

[GENERAL]

2. Jiè 介 is another common, and syntactically flexible, word for armour.

3. Kǎi 鎧 refers to metal plate armour.

[SPECIFIC]

4. Xuán jiǎ 玄甲 refers to iron plate armour.

[SPECIFIC]
SOLDIER

1. There is no current general word for a soldier of any rank, and the collective term for soldiers is jūn 軍 "army". See ARMY

2. Zú 卒 and the archaic tú 徒 refer to an ordinary infantry soldier, and these footsoldiers never ride chariots.

3. Jiǎ 甲 refers to armoured soldiers riding in carriages.

4. Jì 騎 refers to cavalry (Han dynasty).

5. Nǔ 弩 refers to crossbowmen.

6. Yì 役 refers to a conscript soldier.

7. Xiǎo rén 小人 (jūn zǐ 君子 "soldier of a higher grade") refers generically to the lower grades in the army.

8. Shì 士 refers to officers riding chariots in battle.

NB: Bīng 兵 "soldier" may turn out to be post-Han. I have not yet found a clear example where the word refers to a soldier.

Word relations

Epithet: (ARMOUR)堅/HARD The standard word for internal inherent solidity is jiān 堅 (ant. cuì 脆 "brittle"), and the standard word for external firmness, sturdiness and immobility is gù 固.
Assoc: (ARMOUR)兵/ARMY Bīng 兵 "armed force" focusses on the weapons ready for use and may refer to any military grouping. [GENERAL]
Assoc: (ARMOUR)兵/WEAPON Bīng 兵 refers to warfare as a military practice rather than as a political means to achieve ends, and it is significant that the word has no obvious antonym.