Translation guide
The English verb "serve" covers many distinct actions. This guide breaks them down into practical meanings, from serving food and working in a role, to helping others and meeting needs. Each section gives natural Japanese expressions for that specific use.
To give food or drink to someone, especially at a meal or in a restaurant.
General verb for serving or bringing out food/drink. Used in homes and casual settings.
Please serve tea to the guests.
夕食を出す時間です。
It's time to serve dinner.
More formal, often used for services, meals in institutions, or business contexts.
このレストランでは和食を提供しています。
This restaurant serves Japanese food.
Specifically means to arrange food on a plate or dish; 'to plate' or 'to serve up'.
料理をきれいに盛り付けてください。
Please serve the food nicely on the plate.
To hold a position and perform duties, such as serving as a president, member, or in a specific capacity.
To serve in a role or position, often with a sense of duty. Used for jobs, official posts.
彼は会長を務めています。
He serves as the chairperson.
彼女は委員を務めた。
She served on the committee.
To be employed at a company or organization. Focuses on employment rather than a specific role.
To serve selflessly, often for a cause, community, or God. Has a strong connotation of devotion.
彼は生涯を神に奉仕した。
He served God all his life.
To be used for a particular purpose or to fulfill a function.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to be useful' or 'to serve a purpose'. Often used with に.
この道具はいろいろな目的に役立つ。
This tool serves many purposes.
彼の経験が役に立った。
His experience served him well.
To function as; more mechanical or systematic. 'Serve as' in a functional sense.
この部屋は会議室として機能している。
This room serves as a meeting room.
Passive pattern meaning 'is used as'. A straightforward way to say something serves as something else.
この箱はテーブルとして使われている。
This box serves as a table.
To provide assistance or service to a person, customer, or group.
To serve customers; used in retail, restaurants, etc. Focuses on customer service.
彼女は接客が上手だ。
She is good at serving customers.
To serve a master, lord, or someone of higher status. Historical or feudal nuance, but also used for devoted service.
彼は王に仕えた。
He served the king.
To help or assist. A common, casual way to say you serve someone by helping them.
To spend a period of time in prison as a punishment.
Standard phrase for serving a prison sentence.
彼は5年の刑期を務めた。
He served a five-year sentence.
To serve time in prison; more formal/legal term.
彼は現在服役中です。
He is currently serving time.
To hit the ball to start play in tennis or similar sports.
Loanword from English, used in tennis, volleyball, table tennis, etc.
彼は強力なサーブを打った。
He served a powerful serve.
Also used, but サーブする is more common for the action. サービス can also mean 'freebie' or 'service'.
次はあなたがサービスしてください。
Please serve next.
To satisfy a requirement or be adequate for a need.
To fulfill a purpose; to serve its purpose.
この古い機械はまだ目的を果たしている。
This old machine still serves its purpose.
To serve the purpose; to be sufficient. Can also mean 'to relieve oneself' euphemistically, so context matters.
Can also mean 'to go to the bathroom', so use carefully.
この道具で用を足せる。
This tool will serve the purpose.
務める (つとめる) is for serving in a specific role or position (e.g., chairperson, committee member). 勤める (つとめる) is for being employed at a company. 奉仕する (ほうしする) implies selfless, often spiritual or community service.
While 出す (だす) is common, directly translating 'serve food' as 食事をサーブする sounds unnatural. Use 出す or 提供する depending on formality.
彼は銀行に勤めています。
He works at a bank. (He serves at a bank.)
何かお手伝いしましょうか？
May I serve you in some way? (May I help you?)