義務|ぎむgimu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

1. nounduty; obligation; responsibility
   このような義務ぎむがあるなんて知しらなかった。↗

   I never knew about such a duty.

• Synonym責任せきにんNeutralResponsibility you bear for results, as in 「責任を取る」 — the emphasis is on being held accountable for consequences, while 「義務」 is about what you must do.
• Synonym責務せきむWrittenWritten/formal prose for duties one is expected to fulfill, as in 「重い責務」; embraces both responsibility and obligation, with a solemn tone.
• Synonym義理ぎりNeutralWhat human feeling and social ties compel you to do, as in 「義理チョコ」; centers on social give-and-take, and can also mean an in-law relation.
• Synonym勤めつとめNeutralOne's proper duty, and also one's job or going to work, as in 「親の務め」 and 「勤めに出る」; more colloquial than 「義務」.
• Synonym任にんWrittenWritten/formal prose for the charge one bears, as in 「任に当たる」 and 「任が重い」; mostly in fixed expressions.
• SynonymデューティWrittenA loanword, little used in Japanese and mostly in specialist contexts; in everyday speech say 「義務」 or 「職務」.
• Related任務にんむNeutralA concrete task assigned to you, as in 「任務を遂行する」; the emphasis is on the specific work, not a general obligation.
• Related役目やくめNeutralThe duties that come with a role you occupy, as in 「親の役目」; more colloquial than 「義務」 and usually about the role one's position carries.
• Related役やくNeutralA broad word for the post or role one holds, as in 「役を務める」 and 「役につく」; 「義務」 specifically covers what law or morality requires.
• RelatedオブリゲーションWrittenA loanword used very rarely in Japanese; say 「義務」 in everyday contexts.
• Relatedお役目おやくめNeutralA deferential way to speak of public duties or official posts, often carrying a solemn or tongue-in-cheek tone.
• Antonym権利けんりNeutralAntonym: what the law guarantees you may do; forms a pair with 「義務」 as its opposite.

For what the law or morality requires, use 「義務」. Use 「責任」 when the point is answering for consequences, 「任務」 for a concrete assigned task, 「役目」 or 「務め」 for the duties of a role, and 「義理」 for obligations of human feeling. The loanwords 「デューティ」 and 「オブリゲーション」 are rare; prefer 「義務」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. それを行おこなわなければ、何なんらかの不利益ふりえきを被こうむることを受容じゅようしなければならないことが、道義的どうぎてき、法律的ほうりつてきに理由りゆうづけられていること。