下属

• Pinyin: xià shǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 下 = below, lower; 属 = 尸 + 禹 (under a shelter, affiliated — belonging under another's authority)

Meaning

Subordinate; a person under one's authority in an organisational hierarchy. Refers to individuals who report to a superior in a formal institutional or professional structure.

More formal than 部下 and slightly more neutral than 手下 (which can imply personal loyalty or allegiance). Commonly used in government, military, corporate, and academic settings. Can also function as an attributive adjective: 下属机构 (subordinate institution), 下属部门 (subordinate department), 下属单位 (subordinate unit).

Examples

1. 这位部门主管以善于倾听和尊重下属意见著称，团队成员在他的领导下形成了高度的凝聚力与归属感。 The department head is known for listening well and respecting subordinates' views, and under his leadership the team has developed strong cohesion and a sense of belonging.
2. 上级领导要求各级主管对下属的职业发展提供系统性支持，包括定期反馈、培训机会和晋升通道的清晰说明。 Senior leadership requires managers at every level to provide systematic support for subordinates' career development, including regular feedback, training opportunities, and clear promotion paths.
3. 调查发现，该官员长期将下属的研究成果据为己有，严重违反了学术诚信准则，最终被免除一切职务。 An investigation found that the official had long claimed subordinates' research achievements as his own, seriously violating academic integrity standards, and was ultimately stripped of all positions.

Usage Guide

Context: management, government, military, organisations

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 领导对下属授权越充分，团队创造力越高；过度微管会压制主动性，也让领导陷入琐务。(The more fully leaders empower their subordinates, the higher the team's creativity; excessive micromanagement suppresses initiative and traps leaders in trivial tasks.)
• 在军队里，指挥官如何培养下属，直接影响部队战斗力；优秀者能在纪律和主动性间取平衡。(In the military, how commanders train their subordinates directly affects combat effectiveness; the best leaders find a balance between discipline and initiative.)

Don't Say

• 下属 in very informal or personal contexts — 同事 (colleague) or 手下 is more natural in casual speech; 下属 is institutional and formal, and using it casually can sound stiff or condescending

Origin & History

下 (below, lower) + 属 (to belong to, affiliated — 尸 + 禹, a figure under cover — someone under the authority of another)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal