下した請うけ

し

た

う

け

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'

subcontract; subcontracting

Refers to the act or system of subcontracting work. Often used with する to mean 'to subcontract'.

その会かい社しゃは製せい造ぞう工こう程ていの一いち部ぶを下した請うけに出だしている。
That company subcontracts part of its manufacturing process.

下した

請う

け

に

頼たよ

り

すぎる

と

品ひん

質しつ

管かん

理り

が

難むずか

しく

なる

。

Relying too much on subcontracting makes quality control difficult.

2

noun

subcontractor

Refers to the person or company that receives the subcontract. Can be used for both individuals and firms.

彼かれは建けん設せつ現げん場ばで下した請うけとして働はたらいている。
He works as a subcontractor at the construction site.
大おお手て企き業ぎょうは多おおくの下した請うけを抱かかえている。
Large corporations have many subcontractors.

Written forms

下した請うけUsage28%
Standard kanji spelling with okurigana; common in news and business contexts.
下した請うけUsage72%
Abbreviated kanji spelling without okurigana; seen in formal or compact writing.

Kanji

下below, down, descend
請solicit, invite, ask

Similar words

元もと請うけ
元請け is the primary contractor who takes the main contract, while 下請け is the subcontractor who receives work from them.
外がい注ちゅう
外注 is a broader term for outsourcing, not necessarily in a hierarchical contract chain. 下請け specifically implies a tiered subcontracting relationship.

Etymology

Compound of 下 (した, 'under') and 請け (うけ, 'receiving'), from the verb 請ける (うける, 'to receive'). Literally 'receiving from below', referring to taking on work from a higher-tier contractor.