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属下 (shǔ xià) — subordinate (person under one's authority)

Definition

Names a person under your authority — typically used by a manager or superior to refer to the staff who report to them. Slightly more formal and person-focused than 手下, which leans toward a looser group.

noun
subordinate (person under one's authority)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 属下，。
    Tā shì wǒ de shǔ xià, gōng zuò hěn nǔ lì.
    He is my subordinate and works very hard.
  • ，属下。
    Zuò wéi jīng lǐ, nǐ yào hǎo hǎo guǎn lǐ nǐ de shǔ xià.
    As a manager, you need to manage your subordinates well.
  • 属下。
    Zhè xiē shǔ xià dōu tīng cóng tā de ān pái.
    These subordinates all follow his arrangements.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

属shǔsubordinate
下xiàsubordinate

属 and 下 both point to those under someone's authority, forming subordinate.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 屬; 属 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㞑Written in full as尾wěitail
Sound part声符shēngfú
蜀
蜀shǔ屬shǔ
Same sound today

The traditional form 屬 pairs 㞑 (tail) with 蜀 as a sound part; the simplified 属 is a shorthand.

Open 属 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

下 is drawn as a short horizontal line below a long curved line.

Open 下 →
Appears in
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