The kanji 奴 primarily conveys a sense of "person" or "fellow." It often implies a subordinate, servant, or someone of a lower social standing. However, it can also be used in a more casual, friendly way to refer to someone. The nuance of 奴 can shift depending on the context, ranging from respectful to slightly derogatory or informal.

・On-yomi (音読み): do (as in, ド) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): やつ (yatsu), やっこ (yakko)

⚫︎ あの奴 Translation: That guy/fellow. (Often implies a slightly negative or critical tone.) ⚫︎ 奴隷 (dorei) Translation: Slave. ⚫︎ 奴さん (yassan) Translation: A somewhat dated, but friendly, way of addressing someone (like "pal" or "buddy").

The kanji 奴 is a pictograph. It depicts a person kneeling, suggesting a person of lower status or a servant. Over time, the form evolved from its original depiction of a person to the current form.