subordinate; underling; henchman; minion
Refers to someone who works under another's orders, often with a nuance of being a follower in a hierarchy, sometimes with a negative connotation of being a mere tool.
He became the corrupt merchant's henchman.
He works as a subordinate of the boss.
悪者の手下たちが町を荒らした。
The villain's henchmen ravaged the town.
首領は手下を使って街を支配していた。
The boss used his henchmen to control the town.
He appeared with a large number of henchmen at his command.
部下 is the neutral, standard word for a subordinate in a company or organization, while 手下 often carries a negative or personal-follower nuance.
手先 emphasizes being used as a mere tool or pawn by someone, while 手下 focuses more on the follower's place in a hierarchy.
配下 is a more formal, written term for those under one's command, while 手下 is a plainer, everyday word with a rougher feel.
手下 is a neutral word for a subordinate or henchman, while ポチ is explicitly derogatory and implies servile, dog-like obedience.
親分 is the boss or leader of a group, the direct opposite of 手下, who is the follower taking orders.
Standard kanji spelling.
Compound of 手 (hand) and 下 (under), literally 'under one's hand', referring to someone under one's control.