人站在下層：唯命是從
下層站的是一個人，於是「讓路」變成「照做」，而且照做到看不見自己的意見。
adjective · C1
Always doing what another person wants and never saying no, in a way that makes you seem weak and without any power or voice of your own.
卑躬屈膝的；唯命是從的
核心畫面
One way to hold subservient: two things on a , one standing below the other and serving it. Whatever is below does not set the direction; it waits, and it gives way. Put a person on the lower step and you get someone who never says no. Put a rule or a need there and you get something that has to come second.
可以想成一個上下兩層的畫面：一個在上面，一個在下面服務。下面那個不決定方向，只是等著、讓路。把一個「人」放到下層，就…更多收起
可以想成一個上下兩層的畫面：一個在上面，一個在下面服務。下面那個不決定方向，只是等著、讓路。把一個「人」放到下層，就成了唯命是從、沒有自己聲音的那種順從。把一條規定或一項需求放到下層，就成了「次要的、必須讓步的」。同一個高低關係，換掉站在下層的東西，就走出這個字的兩個用法。From the word’s history
From Latin subserviens, from subservio 'to serve under'.
來源可以想成拉丁文 subservio：sub-（在下面）加 servire（服務），字面就是「在下面服務」。這正好就是上下兩層的畫面，今天兩個意思都還站在裡面。
Wiktionary entry for subservient (kaikki extract, source_ref kaikki:3f6f69a190036ae4:851249512): "From Latin subserviens, present active of subservio (to serve under)."
Two branches
事情站在下層：次要
下層站的不是人，而是一條規定、一項權利、一個需求；高低關係沒變，變的是它排的東西。
adjective · C1
Treated as less important than something else, so that it has to give way when the two do not agree.
次要的；從屬於…的