How to say "subordinate" in Japanese

• 目下めしたJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers 'subordinate' as a person: someone ranked below you, an inferior. Used of one's juniors in a workplace or other hierarchy, and fits whether one person or several are meant.
  目下めしたの者ものをないがしろにするな。↗

  Don't ignore your subordinates.
• 下回りしたまわりCommon
  nounCovers both senses: subordinate work or menial service — the lowly tasks done for one's superiors — and, as a person word, the underlings who do such work.
• 女房役にょうぼうやくCommon
  nounNot a general word for a subordinate: it denotes an assistant or right-hand man, someone in a supporting role behind a leader. The 'subordinate' here is a trusted helper, not an underling.
• 下部かぶCommon
  nounMatches 'subordinate' only in the organizational sense of a subordinate office, one under a main office. It refers to an office, not a person, so it is seldom the word for an individual subordinate.

Use 目下 for a person ranked below you, 「下回り」 for menial subordinate work or underlings, 女房役 for a supportive right-hand assistant, and 下部 for a subordinate office rather than a person.

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

• 目下めしたsubordinate
• 下回りしたまわりsubordinate work
• 女房役にょうぼうやくassistant
• 従じゅうsubordinate
• 手下てしたsubordinate
• 従的じゅうてきsubordinate
• 組み下くみしたsubordinate (member of a group)
• 従たるじゅうたるsubordinate
• 隷属的れいぞくてきsubordinate
• 従属的じゅうぞくてきsubordinate
• 下部かぶsubordinate (office)
• 幕下ばっかsubordinate
• 隷属れいぞくsubordinate
• 部属ぶぞくsubordinate
• 下の人したのひとsubordinate