JLPT N3 · 7 strokes
Kanji 役: "duty, war, campaign"
The kanji 役 means "duty, war, campaign, drafted labor, office, service". It is written with 7 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N3, read ヤク, エキ in on'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
ヤクエキ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
no recorded reading
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | duty, war, campaign, drafted labor, office, service |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 7 |
| JLPT level | N3 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 3 |
| Frequency rank | 315 of 2,501 |
Common words with 役
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 役role; assignment; responsibility; duty · position (of responsibility); post; office
- 役に立つto be helpful; to be useful
- 役目duty; role; function
- 役割part; assigning (allotment of) parts; role; duties
- 役立つto be useful; to be helpful; to serve the purpose
- 役に立てるto put to use; to make good use of; to exploit
- 主役leading part; leading actor; leading actress
- 役者actor; actress · man of wits; clever person; cunning fellow
- 現役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
- 役割を果たすto play a role; to serve a function; to play a part
- 役人government official
- 悪役villain; baddie; the villain's part
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