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部下 (bù xià) — subordinate, underling; troops under one's command

Definition

部下 refers to the people under your command or authority — subordinates or troops. Compare with 手下 (more informal, often gang/crew members) and 下属 (standard workplace term for direct reports).

noun
subordinateunderlingtroops under one's command
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 部下，。
    Tā shì wǒ de bù xià, gōng zuò hěn nǔ lì.
    He is my subordinate and works very hard.
  • 部下。
    Jiāng jūn mìng lìng bù xià men lì kè chū fā.
    The general ordered his troops to set off immediately.
  • 部下，。
    Zuò wéi bù xià, nǐ yīng gāi zūn zhòng shàng jí de yì jiàn.
    As a subordinate, you should respect your superior's opinions.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

部bùdepartment
下xiàbelow

部 (department) and 下 (below) together mean the people below in a command.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
邑邑yì
Sound part声符shēngfú
咅
咅pǒu部bù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

部 pairs 咅, which gives the sound, with 邑. It originally named a place in today's Gansu.

Open 部 →

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 →
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