underling
手下
解説 Definition
誰かの部下、または低い地位にある従者。権力や地位が低い人を軽蔑的に指す。
An underling is a person with lower rank or less power in an organization. It often suggests that the person follows orders from someone more important. The word can sound negative or disrespectful depending on the context.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
under が入るので、まず『上ではなく下にいる人』と捉えると覚えやすい。neutral な employee や staff と違い、underling は『上司に使われる下っ端』『雑用をさせられる手先』のような見下した響きが強い。小説や映画で evil boss が his underlings に命令する場面を思い浮かべると定着する。subordinate より口語的で、mere underling だと特に軽蔑的。
The under- part gives a strong clue: someone under another person in rank. Picture a villain giving orders to his underlings in a movie. That makes it easier to remember the negative tone, not a neutral word like employee.
例文
The dictator surrounded himself with underlings who obeyed his every command.
独裁者は彼のあらゆる命令に従う手下に囲まれていた。
The arrogant CEO treated his underlings as if their opinions did not matter.
その傲慢なCEOは、部下たちの意見などどうでもいいかのように扱った。
The crime boss delegated tasks to his underlings throughout the city.
犯罪組織のボスは、市内各地にいる手下たちに仕事を割り振った。
underling の類義語・関連語
underling の語源・成り立ち Etymology
underling は under「下に」+ -ling から成り、-ling はゲルマン系で『小さいもの・取るに足りない者』を表す接尾辞です。『下の方にいる小者』という形そのままに『手下、下っ端』となり、hireling などの -ling 語にも軽蔑的な響きが残ります。
Underling is formed from under and the suffix -ling. This suffix comes from Germanic languages and often meant a small person or a lesser one, sometimes with a negative tone. So underling originally meant someone of lower rank, and the same slight contempt can be felt in words like hireling.
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