noun HSK 5
Traditional 下屬
subordinate · underling · staff member under one's supervision
Meaning
This word refers to a person who works under the authority of someone else in an organizational hierarchy. It's commonly used in workplace contexts to describe employees who report to a superior or manager.
Usage
This is a formal, neutral term used in professional and business contexts. It's the standard way to refer to people who work under your supervision. The word can be used for both individual subordinates and collectively for all one's staff. In very informal settings, people might use other terms, but 下属 is appropriate for all professional communication.
Examples
- 01作为经理，他对下属很关心。, .As a manager, he cares a lot about his subordinates.
- 02她经常和下属沟通工作进度。.She frequently communicates with her subordinates about work progress.
Characters
Measure words
- 个三个下属
- 位几位下属
Common collocations
- 管理下属to manage subordinates
- 培养下属to train/develop subordinates
- 直接下属direct report
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 下 (below) with 属 (to belong to), literally meaning 'those who belong below' in a hierarchical structure.