Explore 役 through the jobs people do and words used in daily life.

The idea

役 has seven strokes. Its common reading ヤク appears in 役割（やくわり）, 役所（やくしょ） and 予約（よやく）. Learn each reading as part of a whole word; consult the linked diagram for stroke order.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample
役割やくわりMy role is to prepare the materials.
役に立つやくにたつThis dictionary is useful for studying Japanese.
市役所しやくしょI will go to city hall tomorrow.
予約よやくI made a reservation for next Friday.

Examples

  • 私わたしの役割やくわりは資料しりょうを準備じゅんびすることです。My role is to prepare the materials.
  • この辞書じしょは日本語にほんごの勉強べんきょうに役やくに立たちます。This dictionary is useful for studying Japanese.
  • 明日あした、市役所しやくしょへ行いきます。I will go to city hall tomorrow.
  • 映画えいがの主役しゅやくを演えんじます。I play the leading role in the film.
  • 二人ふたりで仕事しごとを分担ぶんたんして、それぞれの役目やくめを果はたします。The two of us divide the work and each fulfil our role.
  • 来週らいしゅうの金曜日きんようびに予約よやくをしました。I made a reservation for next Friday.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

役に立つ means to be useful, while 予約 means a reservation. Do not assume that 役 always means service: its meaning depends on the word.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 役割 in hiragana.

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    やくわり

    役割 is やくわり: a role or assignment, as in preparing materials.

  2. Write the reading of 役所 in hiragana.

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    やくしょ

    役所 is やくしょ: a government office; 市役所 is a city hall.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 予＿（よやく）［役／投］.

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    役

    役 completes 予約（よやく）, a reservation. 投 is a different character.

Use it today

Write 役 following the diagram, then cover the readings and make a sentence with 役割 or 役に立つ.