Korean Dictionary
How to say "Subordinate" in Korean
“Subordinate” in Korean is 부하직원 (pronounced "buha jigwon").
부하직원
buha jigwon
Usage & Context
An employee who reports to a manager or supervisor. Subordinates in Korea respect hierarchy and follow directives. They contribute to team goals under supervision.
Example Sentence
부하직원들의 성과를 평가했습니다.
I evaluated my subordinates' performance.
How to use 부하직원 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Subordinate” is 부하직원, romanized as buha jigwon.
Usage tip
Business Korean usually needs polite or formal endings, especially in emails, meetings, and customer situations.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 부하직원.
Pronunciation Guide
The word '부하직원' is pronounced 'Bu-ha-jik-won'. 'Bu' is like 'boo'. 'Ha' is like 'hah'. 'Jik' is similar to 'jik' in 'jigsaw'. 'Won' is like the English word 'won'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing proper workplace etiquette or management principles.
상사는 부하직원들의 의견을 존중해야 합니다.
Superiors should respect the opinions of their subordinates.
Describing a manager delegating tasks.
그는 부하직원들에게 업무 지시를 내렸습니다.
He gave work instructions to his subordinates.
Emphasizing the importance of communication in a team.
부하직원들과의 소통이 원활해야 팀워크가 좋아집니다.
Smooth communication with subordinates improves teamwork.
Cultural Context
'부하직원' literally means 'subordinate employee'. While it's a correct term, it can sometimes sound a bit formal or even slightly impersonal/hierarchical in everyday conversation. In Korean corporate culture, people often use terms like '팀원' (team member), '후배' (junior colleague/junior at work/school), or simply refer to them by their specific job titles when speaking to or about them, especially in a positive or mentoring context. Using '부하직원' directly can sometimes imply a strict top-down relationship.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 부하직원 for formality, so the example fits emails, meetings, or workplace conversations instead of casual speech.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
부하직원 관리
Managing subordinates
부하직원 교육
Training subordinates
부하직원 평가
Subordinate evaluation
Related Expressions
상사
sangsa
Superior/Boss
동료
dongnyo
Colleague
후배
hubae
Junior colleague/Junior (at school/work)
팀원
timwon
Team member
More Business Words
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