努める vs 勤める
JLPT N5 vocabulary · what is the difference?
Both are read つとめる and the kanji decides which word you mean: 勤める is to be employed somewhere — 銀行に勤めています, 'I work for a bank' — while 努める is to make an effort towards something, as in 改善に努める, 'to strive to improve'. A third, 務める, means to serve in a role or post.
When to use each
努める
つとめる
Use 努める for effort and endeavour. The goal takes に — 改善に努める, 解決に努める — or you use ～ように努める. It is formal and written; in conversation people say 頑張る instead.
会社はサービスの改善に努めています。
かいしゃはサービスのかいぜんにつとめています。
The company is striving to improve its service.
みんな問題を解決しようと努めた。
みんなもんだいをかいけつしようとつとめた。
Everyone made an effort to solve the problem.
勤める
つとめる
Use 勤める for holding a job at a place. The workplace takes に, and the verb is almost always in the ～ている form: 銀行に勤めています. The kanji is the one in 勤務 and 通勤.
父は銀行に勤めています。
ちちはぎんこうにつとめています。
My father works for a bank.
十年間、同じ会社に勤めました。
じゅうねんかん、おなじかいしゃにつとめました。
I worked at the same company for ten years.
Sentences where only one works
姉は病院に勤めています。
あねはびょういんにつとめています。
My older sister works at a hospital.
A place of employment before に means 勤. Writing 努めています would say she strives towards a hospital, which makes no sense.
安全の確保に努めます。
あんぜんのかくほにつとめます。
We will make every effort to ensure safety.
An abstract goal before に means 努 — this sentence type is standard in announcements and apologies.
彼は会議の司会を務めました。
かれはかいぎのしかいをつとめました。
He served as chair of the meeting.
A role or duty, marked with を rather than に, takes the third kanji 務. The particle is the quickest clue.
早く起きるように努めています。
はやくおきるようにつとめています。
I'm making an effort to get up early.
～ように努める is a fixed effort pattern; only 努 fits.
Common mistakes
銀行で勤めています。
銀行に勤めています。
勤める takes に for the workplace, not で. This particle error is more common among learners than the kanji error.
会社に努めています。
会社に勤めています。
The typing mistake: several つとめる come up when converting and the wrong one gets picked. 会社に努める would mean striving towards a company.
社長を勤めました。
社長を務めました。
Filling a post or role is 務める. 勤める is about belonging to an employer, and it does not take を for a job title.
Frequently asked questions
Which of the three do I actually need first?
勤める. It is the N5 word you need in order to say where you work, and it appears almost entirely in the phrase ～に勤めています. Learn 努める and 務める later, mainly for reading.
Is 勤める different from 働く?
Yes, in framing. 働く is the act of working and takes で for the place — 銀行で働いています. 勤める is about being on an employer's books and takes に. Both are natural; 勤める sounds slightly more formal.
How do I keep 努 and 務 apart?
Look at the particle. 努める almost always follows に with a goal (改善に努める); 務める follows を with a role (司会を務める). The kanji 努 contains 力, effort, which is a useful hook.