An underling is someone low down in an organization who has to do what the people above them say. It is an insulting word — not a job title.

An underling is someone low down in an organizationunderling 是組織裡地位低下的人，who has to do what the people above them say得聽從上面的人的話。It is an insulting word這是個帶有侮辱意味的字 — not a job title不是個職稱

Nobody puts 'underling' on a business card, and you would not call a colleague one to their face unless you were being unkind or joking. The insult is not really aimed at the person's rank; it is aimed at the idea that they have no mind of their own, that they simply obey.

Nobody puts 'underling' on a business card沒有人會把 'underling' 印在名片上，and you would not call a colleague one to their face你也不會當著同事的面這樣叫他，unless you were being unkind or joking除非你是故意不客氣或在開玩笑。The insult is not really aimed at the person's rank這個侮辱其實針對的不是這個人的職位高低，it is aimed at the idea that they have no mind of their own而是針對「他沒有自己的想法」這個意思，that they simply obey只會乖乖聽命

That is why it so often turns up in the phrase 'sent an underling' — the sting is that the important person could not be bothered to come themselves. Because the word is so obviously loaded, English speakers use it a lot as a joke, especially about themselves or between friends: 'I'll get my underlings on it', said by someone who has no underlings at all.

That is why這就是為什麼 it so often turns up in the phrase 'sent an underling'它常常出現在 'sent an underling'（派了個手下來）這個說法裡 — the sting is that the important person could not be bothered to come themselves刺人的地方在於，那位重要人物懶得親自出面。Because the word is so obviously loaded因為這個字的意味這麼明顯，English speakers use it a lot as a joke英語使用者很常拿它開玩笑，especially about themselves or between friends尤其是自嘲或朋友之間：'I'll get my underlings on it', said by someone who has no underlings at all例如根本沒有手下的人說 'I'll get my underlings on it'（我叫我的手下去辦）

Said with a smile, that is warm rather than cruel. Villains in films are also described as having underlings.

Said with a smile帶著笑意說出口的話，that is warm rather than cruel這是溫暖而不是殘忍的。Villains in films電影裡的壞蛋 are also described as having underlings也常被說有一群 underlings（手下）

The plural 'underlings' is far more common than the singular, because the word tends to describe a faceless group rather than one named person. If you want a neutral word, use 'junior staff', 'assistant', or 'someone who reports to her'.

The plural 'underlings' is far more common than the singular複數的 'underlings' 比單數常見得多，because the word tends to describe a faceless group因為這個字通常是在講一群面目模糊的人，rather than one named person而不是某個有名有姓的人。If you want a neutral word如果你想要個中性一點的字，use 'junior staff', 'assistant', or 'someone who reports to her'可以用 'junior staff'（基層員工）、'assistant'（助理）、或 'someone who reports to her'（向她報告的人）