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の元で護衛を務める。

Does it mean "for", "on behalf of", "in the name of"? Or "under the guidance of"?

What's the difference between that and の下で?

Can I replace で with に?

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  • 1
    下/元/基 are often confused even by some native speakers...
    – naruto
    Aug 10, 2022 at 6:55
  • It's official though. I've simplified the text, but you can see the original one: otomate.jp/kurenai/chara/?page=sasuke Aug 10, 2022 at 7:15
  • Is it a mistake? Aug 10, 2022 at 7:44
  • 1
    Yes I think it's a common mistake
    – naruto
    Aug 10, 2022 at 8:17

1 Answer 1

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I think it is using a wrong kanji, strictly speaking.

  • refers to source like 怪我が元で仕事を辞めた

  • means under. Could be written also as 許.

彼の下{もと}で護衛を務める could mean (1) to work as a guard for him or (2) to work as a guard under him ("he" is also a guard). To me, 彼の下{した}で makes the interpretation (2) more likely.

Regarding the particle, here 務める means a state rather than a movement, so で is much more natural. 下に works better for action like 彼の下に集まる (gather around him as a leader). Also, a phrase like 法の下に平等である (equal under the law) is natural despite its being a state, but this kind of に should be only for written/strained expressions.

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  • Is 下 read もと or した here? You've wrote both of them. Aug 10, 2022 at 7:24
  • 1
    @Haragurodanshi Can be either, もと sounds more like (1) and した more like (2).
    – sundowner
    Aug 10, 2022 at 7:34

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