部属 (bù shǔ) — (noun) a subordinate person (in an official or military hierarchy); (noun) a subordinate unit or department (attached to a larger organization)

Definition

In official or military contexts, 部属 refers to a person (or unit) who serves under a higher authority — subordinates in a chain of command. Use it for formal hierarchy, not everyday 'staff' like 员工.

noun
a subordinate person (in an official or military hierarchy)a subordinate unit or department (attached to a larger organization)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 部属。
    Tā shì yí wèi fēi cháng zhōng chéng de bù shǔ.
    He is a very loyal subordinate.
  • 部属。
    Zhè ge bù shǔ dān wèi fù zé suǒ yǒu de hòu qín gōng zuò.
    This subordinate unit is responsible for all logistics work.
  • 部属。
    Jiāng jūn duì tā de bù shǔ fēi cháng yán lì.
    The general is very strict with his subordinates.

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bùministry
属shǔsubordinate

部 (ministry) and 属 (subordinate) combine to mean a ministry 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.

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 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.