---
title: "Xiashu Meaning: 下属 (xiàshǔ) Means “subordinate”"
description: "下属 (traditional 下屬, xiàshǔ) means “subordinate”. Hear its tones, see what 下 and 属 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/xiashu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 下属 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

下属 xiàshǔ

## subordinate

## It can also mean

- affiliated; under (an organization)

## Its characters

1. 下 xià down
2. 属 shǔ to belong to

## In a sentence

他对下属很客气。 He is very polite to his subordinates.

[More about 下属](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E4%B8%8B%E5%B1%9E)

## More words with 下 or 属

- [当下 dāngxià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dangxia)
- [地下 dìxià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/dixia)
- [附属 fùshǔ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fushu)
- [归属 guīshǔ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/guishu)
- [家属 jiāshǔ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jiashu)
- [金属 jīnshǔ](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/jinshu)
- [零下 língxià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/lingxia)
- [留下 liúxià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/liuxia)
- [如下 rúxià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/ruxia)
- [上下 shàngxià](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shangxia)

## Keep 下属 for Review

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[How it compares with Pleco](https://mandarinthewild.com/compare/pleco)