子こ分ぶん

こ

ぶ

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

Refers to a subordinate member of a gang, yakuza group, or similar hierarchical organization. Often contrasted with 親分 (boss).

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉の子こ分ぶんになるto become someone's henchman/follower
彼かれは若わかい頃ころ、あの組くみ長ちょうの子こ分ぶんになった。
When he was young, he became that boss's henchman.
〈人ひと〉を子こ分ぶんにするto take someone on as one's follower/henchman
親おや分ぶんは腕うでの立たつ若わか者ものを子こ分ぶんにした。
The boss took the skilled young man on as his follower.
子こ分ぶんを従したがえるto have followers under one's command
その男おとこは多おおくの子こ分ぶんを従したがえていた。
That man commanded many henchmen.

Kanji

子child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM
分part, minute of time, segment
乾drought, dry, desiccate
児newborn babe, child, young of animals

Related words

手て下した sense 1
手下 also means underling or henchman but is more general, whereas 子分 specifically implies a follower within a gang or yakuza-style hierarchy.
部ぶ下かN2sense 1
部下 refers to a subordinate in a company or official organization, while 子分 is used for followers in gangs or informal power hierarchies.
家け来らいN1sense 1
家来 is a feudal-era retainer serving a lord, whereas 子分 is a more modern, informal term for a gang follower.
手て先さき
子分 names a loyal follower or gang subordinate, whereas 手先 emphasizes being manipulated like a puppet by a hidden controller.
ポチ
子分 refers to a gang member's junior follower and can be used neutrally or even affectionately, while ポチ is always contemptuous.

Opposites

親おや分ぶん sense 1
親分 is the boss or leader of a gang-like group, while 子分 is the subordinate follower beneath him.
組くみ長ちょう
子分 refers to a subordinate or follower under a boss, the direct opposite role to 組長, the boss or leader of the group.

Word family

親おや分ぶん子こ分ぶん
boss and henchmen; boss and underlings

Built from

子こ+分ぶん

Written forms

子こ分ぶんUsage93%
Standard modern spelling for both senses; the archaic sense is also written with this form.
乾分こぶんUsage6%
Rare alternative spelling; not commonly used in modern Japanese.
乾児こぶんUsage1%
Rare alternative spelling; not commonly used in modern Japanese.

Etymology

Compound of 子 (child) and 分 (portion, part), originally referring to a child's share or status, later extended to mean a subordinate member of a group.