How to say "duty" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 責任せきにんnounCovers duty as responsibility — being answerable for a task or for supervising staff. Choose it when 'duty' means accountability you bear, as in a manager's responsibility for her team's work.
- 義務ぎむnounDuty as obligation — something you must do by law, morality, or your role. It fits civic and legal duties, like the duty to vote or obey the law.
- 税金ぜいきんnounOnly for duty as a tax — money paid to the government, such as customs duty on imports. For any other sense of 'duty' it is seldom the word you want; it really just means tax.
- 勤務きんむnoun, suru verb, intransitive verbDuty as service at work — the time you spend on duty at a job. It fits contexts like being on duty at a hospital, office, or station.
- 任務にんむnounDuty as an assigned mission or task — the job you are charged with carrying out. Typical of military, police, or rescue contexts, and of the specific duties attached to a post.
For duty as obligation use 義務, as responsibility or charge over staff use 責任, as work service use 勤務, as an assigned mission use 任務, and as a tax or customs duty use 税金.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 責任せきにんduty
- 義務ぎむduty
- 税金ぜいきんtax
- 勤務きんむservice
- 任務にんむduty
- 役目やくめduty
- 義理ぎりduty
- 責務せきむduty
- 係かかりcharge
- 勤めつとめservice
- 関税かんぜいcustoms (duties)
- 服務ふくむduty
- 任にんobligation
- 役柄やくがらrole
- 役やくrole
- 役所やくどころassigned role
- 本務ほんむduty
- 一分いちぶんduty
- デューティduty
- 責せきresponsibility
- 役儀やくぎrole
- 係がかりcharge
- お役目おやくめ(public) duty
- 使命しめいtask
- 仁義じんぎduty
- 大義名分たいぎめいぶんduty (to one's country, sovereign, etc.)
- 松柏しょうはくduty
- 掛かりかかりcharge
See also
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