目下
의미: A social junior — someone younger, lower-ranking, or less experienced than you in a given context.
目下 is the counterpart to 目上, representing those below you in the social hierarchy. While the 目上 must be treated with formal respect, a 目上 person has certain responsibilities toward 目下 — mentoring, buying meals, and providing guidance. Using the wrong register with 目下 (being overly formal) can feel distant, while being too casual with 目上 is rude.
예문
- 目下の人にも丁寧に接する人って信頼されるよね。 对晚辈也很礼貌的人会受到信赖呢。Las personas que tratan con educación a sus subordinados se ganan la confianza de todos.아랫사람에게도 정중하게 대하는 사람은 신뢰받지.
- 目下だからって雑に扱っていいわけじゃない。 不能因为是晚辈就可以随便对待。Que alguien sea tu subordinado no significa que puedas tratarlo de cualquier manera.아랫사람이라고 함부로 대해도 되는 건 아니야.
- 目下の面倒を見るのも先輩の仕事だよ。 照顾晚辈也是前辈的职责啊。Cuidar de los subordinados también es parte del trabajo de un superior.아랫사람을 돌보는 것도 선배의 역할이야.
발음
/me.ɕi.ta/
사용 가이드
맥락: workplace, school, social dynamics, mentorship
어조: hierarchical, instructive
✓ 올바른 표현
- 目下にも敬意を払うべきだと思う (I think you should show respect to juniors too)我觉得对晚辈也应该表示尊重（我认为对下级也应该保持敬意）目下にも敬意を払うべきだと思う (Creo que también se debe mostrar respeto a los subordinados)目下にも敬意を払うべきだと思う (아랫사람에게도 존중을 보여야 한다고 생각해)
- 目下の育成が上司の大事な仕事 (Developing juniors is an important job for superiors)培养下属是上司的重要职责（培养后辈是上级的重要工作）目下の育成が上司の大事な仕事 (Formar a los subordinados es una tarea importante de los superiores)目下の育成が上司の大事な仕事 (아랫사람 육성이 상사의 중요한 업무야)
✗ 잘못된 표현
- 本人の前で「お前は目下だ」と言うのは見下している印象を与える (Saying 'you are my inferior' to someone's face comes across as looking down on them)当面对人说「你是我的下级」会给人一种被看不起的感觉本人の前で「お前は目下だ」と言うのは見下している印象を与える (Decirle a alguien en su cara «tú eres mi subordinado» da la impresión de que le estás mirando por encima del hombro)상대 앞에서 '너는 내 아랫사람이야'라고 말하면 무시하는 인상을 준다
흔한 실수
- Using 目下 as an insult — it is a neutral hierarchical descriptor, not inherently negative
- Assuming 目下 relationships are purely one-directional — good 先輩 (seniors) actively support their 目下
기원과 역사
From 目 (eye/gaze) + 下 (below) — someone you look down upon in social rank (not disparagingly, but hierarchically). Paired with 目上 as part of Japan's vertical social structure (縦社会).
문화적 배경
Era: Classical hierarchy concept, still observed in Japanese society
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal, especially workplace and school
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Understanding 目下 dynamics is essential for navigating Japanese organisational culture.
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