subordinate work; menial tasks; underling
Refers to low-level, routine, or support work, or a person doing such work. Often used in organizational contexts.
New employees are assigned subordinate work for a while.
He is content with his role as an underling.
minor role actor (kabuki, etc.)
Specifically used in traditional performing arts like kabuki for actors with small parts.
He has played minor roles in kabuki for many years.
Technical term for the underbody of a car, truck, etc.
The mechanic is inspecting the underside of the car.
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and common contexts.
Rarely used kanji form; 廻 is an older variant of 回.
Compound of 下 (した, 'below') and 回り (まわり, 'going around'), literally 'going around below', referring to support or subordinate roles.