diligence · work

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 勤 concerns working or applying oneself diligently; its on-reading is きん.
• Basic usage: 勤める describes being employed at a workplace, while 勤務 refers to work or employment.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Marking the workplace
  • In 図書館に勤めている, に marks the library as the place of employment. This differs from briefly doing some other activity at a library.
• Different spellings of a kun-reading
  • 勤める, meaning to be employed, and 務める, meaning to perform a role, are both read つとめる. The activity determines which spelling is appropriate.