隶属 (lì shǔ) is a formal verb meaning 'to be subordinate to' or 'to belong to' in an organizational, administrative, or hierarchical sense. It emphasizes a clear relationship of authority and subordination — for example, one department belonging to a larger ministry, or a county falling under the jurisdiction of a province. The first character 隶 (lì) historically refers to being registered or assigned (as in ancient clerical service), while 属 (shǔ) means 'to belong to' or 'to be under the jurisdiction of'. Together, they form a compound expressing institutional or structural subordination.

This word is commonly used in official, governmental, academic, or corporate contexts — such as describing administrative divisions, organizational charts, or reporting lines. It is not used for personal relationships (e.g., family roles) or informal affiliations (e.g., fandoms or hobbies). Because it carries a formal, top-down connotation, it rarely appears in casual speech and is more frequent in written reports, legal documents, or news articles about governance and structure.