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What is the Kanji for 'Duty'? | 役

If you are wondering what is the Japanese Kanji for 'Duty', you've come to the right place!

The Japanese Kanji for 'Duty' is 役.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Duty

    Reading

    onyomiえき

    eki

    やく

    yaku

    Parts

    Stop Pike

    Example Word

    役所: government or office. The Japanese noun '役所 (やくしょ)' refers to a government office or administrative building where official business is conducted. It is commonly used to describe local government offices, such as city halls or municipal offices, where services like issuing documents, handling taxes, or providing public information are carried out. For example: I went to the city office to submit documents「役所に書類を提出しに行きました」(やくしょにしょるいをていしゅつにいきました). The government office is closed on weekends「役所は週末に閉まっています」(やくしょはしゅうまつにしまっています). Note that while '役所' often refers to local government offices, it can also broadly refer to any government administrative body.

    Radical

    Stroke Count

    7

    JLPT

    N3

    Grade

    3

    Frequency

    354

    Handwriting

Parts of the Kanji

If you visually break down this kanji, you can see it is made up of 2 parts:

    radical

    Meaning

    Stop

    radical

    Meaning

    Pike

Words Using

This kanji is used in 14 words:

    word

    Meaning

    Role

    word

    役割

    Meaning

    Role

    word

    役に立つ

    Meaning

    Useful

    word

    市役所

    Meaning

    City hall

    word

    区役所

    Meaning

    Ward office

    word

    重役

    Meaning

    Executive

    word

    主役

    Meaning

    Lead

    word

    役所

    Meaning

    Government, Office

    word

    役立つ

    Meaning

    Useful

    word

    役員

    Meaning

    Executive

    word

    役人

    Meaning

    Official

    word

    役目

    Meaning

    Duty, Role

    word

    役者

    Meaning

    Actor

    word

    現役

    Meaning

    Active

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 19 kanji contain the part 彳 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    After, Behind

    kanji

    Meaning

    Go

    kanji

    Meaning

    Wait

    kanji

    Meaning

    Follower, Junior

    kanji

    Meaning

    Law, Rhythm

    kanji

    Meaning

    Follow, Obey

    kanji

    Meaning

    Journey, Go on

    kanji

    Meaning

    Restore

    kanji

    Meaning

    Acquire

    kanji

    Meaning

    Virtue

    kanji

    Meaning

    Honorable, General honorific term

    kanji

    Meaning

    Third person pronoun, He

    kanji

    Meaning

    Levy, Symptom

    kanji

    Meaning

    Slight, Delicate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Penetrate, Go through

    kanji

    Meaning

    Slowly, Gradually

    kanji

    Meaning

    Path, Diameter

    kanji

    Meaning

    Subjugate

    kanji

    Meaning

    Circulate, Sequential

Kanji Related to Through the Part

These 14 kanji contain the part 殳 as well.

    kanji

    Meaning

    Throw

    kanji

    Meaning

    Step, Stairs

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sort, Carrier

    kanji

    Meaning

    Set up, Establish

    kanji

    Meaning

    Kill

    kanji

    Meaning

    Sink, Drown

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beat, Strike

    kanji

    殿

    Meaning

    Palace, Formal honorific title

    kanji

    Meaning

    Beat, Assault

    kanji

    Meaning

    Grain, Cereal

    kanji

    Meaning

    Shell, Husk

    kanji

    Meaning

    Epidemic

    kanji

    Meaning

    Break

    kanji

    Meaning

    Crotch, Thigh

Learn the Kanji

Let's make sure you fully understand this kanji.

What does 役 mean?

役 means 'Duty'.

Japanese school students learn this kanji in Third Grade, while non-native learners often study it for the JLPT N3 exam.

To help you master this kanji, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.