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役目

やくめ

duty, role, function

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 子どもを守るのが親の役目だ。

    こどもをまもるのがおやのやくめだ。

    Protecting children is a parent's duty.

  2. 古い木箱がテーブルの役目をした。

    ふるいきばこがてーぶるのやくめをした。

    An old wooden box served as a table.

  3. 自分の役目を果たせなくて、申し訳ありません。

    じぶんのやくめをはたせなくて、もうしわけありません。

    I am sorry I could not carry out my part.

Common patterns

役目を果たす
to fulfil one's duty
役目を終える
to finish one's term of duty
〜の役目をする
to serve as ~

Memory tip

役目 is the concrete job handed to a particular person or thing, so it works for objects too (テーブルの役目をする, 'act as a table'). 役割 is the more abstract 'role' in a system, and 義務 is an obligation you cannot refuse.

Kanji in this word

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What does 役目 mean?