also: しゅじゅう
master-servant relationship; lord-retainer bond; employer-employee relation
Refers to the hierarchical relationship between a superior and a subordinate, historically between a lord and retainer, and in modern contexts between an employer and employee.
The lord-retainer relationship in the feudal era was based on absolute loyalty.
Even in modern companies, a hierarchical relationship like master and servant sometimes remains.
Standard kanji spelling. The reading しゅうじゅう is the most common.
Alternate reading, less common than しゅうじゅう.
Compound of 主 (master, lord) and 従 (follow, obey). The word directly describes the relationship between a master and a follower.