役
KANJI DETAIL
role · duty
On readingやく, えき7 strokesN2
Radical 彳 · walk slowlyStroke order
Loading the stroke order for 役.
Japanese readings
- On reading
- やく, えき
- Kun reading
- None
Study notes
1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning
- Structure: 役 has 7 strokes and the on-readings やく and えき. 役 (やく) and 役割 (やくわり), both concerning roles, use やく.
- Basic usage: 役 can name a theatrical part or assigned duty; 役割 names the role or function of a person or thing.
2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions
- A theatrical part and a functional role
- 医者の役を演じた means played the part of a doctor. 役を担う means to take on a role, as in the example about a moderator guiding a discussion.
- 役割を担う also means to take on a role and is used for a moderator. 役割も果たしている appears in the example about forests performing the function of supporting living things.