仕える・事える|つかえるtsukaeru[3]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
仕える仕える（つかえる） is the most common written form and the recommended choice for beginners when writing this word.
事える事える（つかえる） is a less common written variant; recognize it, but choose 仕える when writing this word.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, intransitive verbto serve; to work for; to attend
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 仕える（つかえる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 仕えます（つかえます） |
| Negative (nai) | 仕えない（つかえない） |
| polite (masen) | 仕えません（つかえません） |
| classical zu / nu | 仕えず・仕えぬ（つかえず・つかえぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 仕えた（つかえた） |
| polite (mashita) | 仕えました（つかえました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 仕えなかった（つかえなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 仕えませんでした（つかえませんでした） |
| Te form | 仕えて（つかえて） |
| Potential | 仕えられる（つかえられる） |
| Passive | 仕えられる（つかえられる） |
| Causative | 仕えさせる（つかえさせる） |
| Causative passive | 仕えさせられる（つかえさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 仕えれば（つかえれば） |
| tara | 仕えたら（つかえたら） |
| Volitional | 仕えよう（つかえよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 仕えましょう（つかえましょう） |
| Imperative | 仕えろ（つかえろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym仕え奉るつかえまつるWrittenArchaic humble word for respectfully serving one's lord; virtually unused today. For serving someone, say 「仕える」.
- Synonym奉じるほうじるWrittenWritten word for carrying out commands, believing in a doctrine, or offering something up; 「仕える」 is serving and working under someone.
- Synonym奉ずるほうずるWrittenWritten form with the same sense as 「奉じる」: obeying, believing in, or offering up; 「仕える」 centres on serving a particular person.
- Synonym侍するじするWrittenRare written word for waiting in attendance on a person of rank; in everyday speech use 「仕える」 or 「付き添う」.
- SynonymかしずくWrittenWritten word for serving and caring for someone attentively, with a deferential nuance; 「仕える」 is more neutral and can mean serving a lord.
- Related勤めるつとめるNeutralFor working or holding a post at a company or similar; 「仕える」 stresses serving under a master or superior and carries a subordinate nuance.
- Related尽くすつくすNeutralFor devoting oneself fully to a person or cause, as in 「国に尽くす」; 「仕える」 centres on the status-based relationship of serving someone.
- Related付き添いつきそいNeutralA noun for the person or act of accompanying and looking after someone, such as a hospital escort; 「仕える」 is a subordinate serving relationship.
- Related付き添うつきそうNeutralFor accompanying someone to look after them, e.g. a patient or a child; 「仕える」 is subordinate service and is not limited to caring for someone.
- Related仕るつかまつるWrittenArchaic or humble word meaning to do or perform, and also to serve; now heard mostly in period dramas. In daily speech use 「仕える」 or 「いたす」.
- Related出仕しゅっしWrittenWritten, old-fashioned word for entering government service or taking up an official post; 「仕える」 is serving a particular master.
Use 「仕える」 for serving a lord or the gods, or working under a superior or the state, as in 「上司に仕える」. For a company job use 「勤める」, for attending to someone at their side 「付き添う」, for devoting oneself fully 「尽くす」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
