How to say "pawn" in Japanese

• ロボットCommon
  nounThe figurative pawn as a will-less follower: someone who acts at others' command as if programmed, without a mind of their own. The nuance is mechanical, dehumanized obedience—people who merely execute orders.
• 手先てさきCommon
  nounThe figurative pawn as someone's tool: a person used by another to do their bidding, an underling or stooge. The nuance is serving a specific master or group as their instrument.
  あいつの手先てさきじゃない。↗

  I don't live in his pocket.

Both translate the figurative pawn—a person used by others: 「ロボット」 stresses someone acting mechanically, without a will of their own, while 手先 stresses an underling or stooge doing a particular person's bidding; neither names the chess piece.

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

• 質しちpawn
• 歩ふpawn
• 兵ひょうpawn
• 歩兵ふひょうpawn
• ポーンpawn (chess piece)
• 質物しちもつpawn
• 質に入れるしちにいれるto pawn
• ロボット(mere) puppet
• 手先てさきunderling
• 爪牙そうがpawn
• 殺すころすto pawn
• 曲げるまげるto pawn