'附属' (fù shǔ) is an adjective meaning 'subordinate' or 'affiliated', describing a relationship where one entity depends on, belongs to, or is governed by another. The character 附 (fù) means 'to attach' or 'to join', while 属 (shǔ) means 'to belong to' or 'to be under the jurisdiction of'. Together, they convey the idea of being attached to and dependent upon a larger or more authoritative body — such as a branch office affiliated with a headquarters, or a territory subordinate to a sovereign state.

This term is commonly used in formal, administrative, institutional, or geographical contexts — for example, describing schools, hospitals, research institutes, or regions that operate under the authority or management of a parent organization or governing body. It carries a neutral-to-formal register and is rarely used in casual speech. While it can sometimes imply hierarchy or dependency, it does not inherently suggest inferiority — rather, it emphasizes structural or administrative linkage.