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役
役 (readings: やく, えき; Japanese kanji) means “role / duty”. It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 役所 (government office).
What does 役 mean?
| Kanji | 役 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | role / duty |
| Readings | やく, えき |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
How to read 役
役 is read やく or えき depending on the word.
Example words with 役
| Example | 役所 (government office) |
|---|
Practice writing 役 — free
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Updated: 2026-07-14