子分・乾児・乾分|こぶんkobun[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounhenchman; follower
2. nounadopted child

• Synonym配下はいかWrittenWritten/formal prose for subordinates, as in 「配下の者」; leans toward the organizational side of the relationship.
• Synonym手下てしたNeutralNeutral word for underlings or henchmen, leaning descriptive: people under someone's control. 「子分」 stresses personal allegiance to a 「親分」.
• Synonym隷下れいかWrittenFormal word for being under someone's control, with a military-organizational cast; used rarely.
• Related部下ぶかNeutralNeutral word for subordinates in a company or similar organization; 「子分」 stresses personal subordination to a 「親分」.
• Related麾下きかWrittenFormal word for people or troops under someone's command, as in 「麾下の部隊」; military and organizational in flavor.
• Related下っ端したっぱCasualColloquial for low-ranking members of an organization, small fry; stresses lowly status, while 「子分」 stresses personal subordination to a 「親分」.
• Related下人げにんWrittenWritten word for menial servants and people of low standing; carries a historical flavor.
• Related下役したやくWrittenWritten term for low-ranking officials and subordinate functionaries; leans toward officialdom.
• Related雑兵ぞうひょうWrittenWritten word for common soldiers, the rank and file; also used figuratively for small fry.
• Related三下さんしたNeutralColloquial for petty underlings or small fry, with an underworld flavor; close in feel to 「子分」.
• RelatedふんどしかつぎNeutralRefers to the lowest-ranked sumo wrestlers; figuratively a tag-along lackey, with a contemptuous nuance.
• Related追随者ついずいしゃWrittenWritten word for someone who follows a person or idea and imitates their ways; 「子分」 stresses subordination to a 「親分」.
• Related追従者ついじゅうしゃWrittenWritten word for a person who follows and supports someone; used rarely.

Use 「子分」 for someone personally under a boss, paired with 「親分」 — typical of gang talk. For plain description of underlings use 「手下」; for company or organization staff, 「部下」; for small fry, 「三下」 or colloquial 「下っ端」. In formal prose pick 「配下」, or 「麾下」/「隷下」 for military command.

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

1. ある人ひとの配下はいかとなり従属じゅうぞくする者もの。
2. 仮かりに子ことして扱あつかわれる者もの。