← Back

役

duty
Stroke count: 7

Readings

On readingヤク、エキ
JLPT level: N3JōyōGrade 3

Meanings

  1. dutyRtK
  2. campaign
  3. drafted labor
  4. office
  5. role
    彼はマクベスの役を非常にうまく演じる。He plays the role of Macbeth with great skill.tatoeba
  6. service
    彼は兵役を免除されている。He is exempt from the military service.tatoeba
    彼は兵役中は軍隊の厳しい規則に従っていた。He was subjected to strict military discipline while in the service.tatoeba
  7. war
  1. assignment
  2. responsibility
  3. function

Popular Usage

役に立つ重役主役

Radicals and components

Radical彳step
Components
How it's built
役
  • →
    • →
  • →
    • →
      • →
    • →

Mnemonic (RtK)

ⓘ

Nelson · column · going (行) · line · cruise missile · missile · wind (風) · crotch

From "Remembering the Kanji" by James Heisig · Frame 949

Compound words

役に立つやくにたつ
to be helpful; to be useful
主役しゅやく
leading part; leading actor; leading actress
重役じゅうやく
(company) director; executive; top management; important post; role with heavy responsibilities
役立つやくだつ
to be useful; to be helpful; to serve the purpose
村役場むらやくば
a village office
悪役あくやく
villain; baddie; the villain's part
現役げんえき
active duty; active service; student taking (university) entrance exams while still enrolled in school; student who passed their university entrance exams on the first try
三役さんやく
three highest ranks (wrestling, unions, etc.); three parts; three divisions
助役じょやく
assistant official
代役だいやく
substitute (actor); stand-in; fill-in; understudy; double
懲役ちょうえき
penal servitude; imprisonment with hard labor (hard labour)
服役ふくえき
penal servitude; serving time in prison; military service; forced labor; compulsory service
兵役へいえき
military service; conscription
役員やくいん
director; executive; officer; official; person in charge
役割やくわり
part; assigning (allotment of) parts; role; duties
役者やくしゃ
actor; actress; man of wits; clever person; cunning fellow
役所やくしょ
government office; public office
役場やくば
town hall
役職やくしょく
post; official position; managerial position; executive position
役人やくにん
government official
役柄やくがら
role; duty; position; part
役目やくめ
duty; role; function
脇役わきやく
supporting role (actor); minor role
退役たいえき
retiring from military service

On Reading Examples

彼は議長の役を務めた。やく
He acted as chairman.tatoeba
彼はリヤ王の役を演じた。やく
He acted the part of King Lear.tatoeba
彼はハムレットの役を演じた。やく
He played the part of Hamlet.tatoeba

Additional Examples

彼は保険会社の重役である。
He is an executive in an insurance company.tatoeba
彼は父親の代役をした。
He was substituted for his father.tatoeba

Stroke Order

7 strokes

Practice Writing

Practice Writing 役

Draw with a guide, then from memory — checked at every step