家 来(けらい)

けらい

noun

retainer, servant, vassal

1. retainer, servant, vassal, follower

A person who serves a lord or master, especially in a feudal context. Also used loosely to describe someone who follows another person obediently.

殿様(とのさま)の家来(けらい)になる。

To become a lord's retainer.

桃太郎(ももたろう)は犬(いぬ)と猿(さる)と雉(きじ)を家来(けらい)にした。

Momotaro made the dog, monkey, and pheasant his retainers.

忠義(ちゅうぎ)な家来(けらい)たちは主君(しゅくん)のために命(いのち)を懸(か)けて戦(たたか)った。

The loyal retainers fought with their lives on the line for their lord.

Usage

家来(けらい) is primarily a historical term describing feudal servants, but it also appears in folk tales, fiction, and casual speech. In everyday language, calling someone a 家来(けらい) implies they follow another person around like a servant (often said jokingly or critically).

Similar words

家臣(かしん): retainer, vassal (more formal, used in historical writing)
部下(ぶか): subordinate (modern, workplace context)
召使(めしつか)い: servant (domestic servant)

Cultural note

The word is well known from the folk tale 桃太郎(ももたろう) (Momotaro), where the hero recruits animal companions as 家来(けらい) by offering them 黍団子(きびだんご) (millet dumplings).

Common collocations

家来(けらい)にする: to make someone one's retainer
家来(けらい)を従(したが)える: to have retainers in one's service
忠実(ちゅうじつ)な家来(けらい): a loyal retainer

Related Words

Synonym: 家臣(かしん) (retainer (formal))

Synonym: 部下(ぶか) (subordinate (modern))

Compare: 召使(めしつか)い (servant)

Related: 殿様(とのさま) (feudal lord, lord)

general

Added 2026.2.21 14:55 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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