How to say "follower" in Japanese

• 供ともCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThis is the attendant sense: a follower who accompanies a superior as a companion or escort, as when traveling with one's lord or boss. It is not for admirers or gang underlings.
  空港くうこうまでお伴ともしましょう。↗

  I'll accompany you to the airport.
• 家来けらいJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounA lord's retainer or vassal: the follower who serves a master, as samurai served a feudal lord. The natural word for retainers in historical or samurai-drama contexts.
  ハンプティダンプティ、壁かべの上うえに座すわって、ハンプティダンプティ、ドシンと落おちた。王おう様さまの馬うまのみんなも王様おうさまの家来けらいのみんなもハンプティを元もとに戻もどせなかった。↗

  Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men couldn't put Humpty Dumpty together again.
• 門徒もんとCommon
  nounThe religious sense only: a follower of a faith, a believer; especially associated with Jōdo Shinshū practitioners. It is not the word for secular followers of a person or cause.
• 子分こぶんCommon
  nounThis is the henchman sense: a follower as an underling of a boss, as in a gang. It suggests a lackey rather than a mere admirer or believer.
• 学徒がくとCommon
  nounChiefly 'student' or 'pupils'; its 'follower' sense is a disciple who studies under a master in a scholarly setting. It is seldom the word for other kinds of follower.

Choose by the relationship involved: 供 for an accompanying attendant, 家来 for a lord's retainer, 門徒 for a religious adherent, 子分 for a boss's henchman, and 学徒 for a student or scholarly disciple.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 供ともcompanion
• 家来けらいretainer
• 門徒もんとfollower (of religion; esp. Jōdo Shinshū practitioners)
• 子分こぶんhenchman
• 学徒がくとstudent
• 随行ずいこうattendant
• 門下生もんかせいpupil
• 弟子でしpupil
• 信者しんじゃbeliever
• 信徒しんとlayman
• 従者じゅうしゃattendant
• フォロワーfollower
• 随従者ずいじゅうしゃfollower
• 追従者ついじゅうしゃfollower
• 門人もんじんpupil
• 門弟もんていdisciple
• 宗徒しゅうとbeliever
• 信仰者しんこうしゃbeliever
• 随従ずいじゅうfollowing the lead (of)
• 腰巾着こしぎんちゃくhanger-on
• 門生もんせいpupil
• 追随者ついずいしゃacolyte
• 亜流ありゅうfollower
• 巾着きんちゃくhanger-on
• 眷属けんぞくfollower
• 従節じゅうせつfollower (machine part receiving motion from another)
• 子方こかたhenchman
• 幕下ばっかsubordinate