slave · guy

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 奴 is associated with a servant or a term for a person; its on-reading is ど, and its kun-readings include やつ.
• Basic usage: 奴(やつ) can mean a guy or a thing, while 奴隷(どれい) means a slave.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 奴 referring to a person or a thing
  • 失礼な奴 is a rough expression meaning a rude guy. It differs from a polite way of referring to someone.
  • 棚の赤い奴 means the red thing on the shelf. Here 奴 stands for an object rather than a person.