務
task, duties
Readings
On'yomi
- ム
Kun'yomi
- つと.める
Nanori
- つかさ
- み
Meaning
務 centers on work that must be done: a task, duty, or responsibility one is expected to carry out.
Most common words using 務
24 of 474- 事務所じむしょN5
office
- 業務ぎょうむN1
business; work; operations; service; duties
- 勤務きんむN2
service; duty; work
- 義務ぎむN3
duty; obligation; responsibility
- 事務じむN3
office work; clerical work; administration; business; affairs
- 任務にんむN1
duty; function; office; mission; task; role
- 刑務所けいむしょN1
prison; jail; gaol; penitentiary
- 公務員こうむいんN4
public employee; government employee; public-sector worker; public servant; civil servant
- 総務そうむ
general affairs; general business; manager; director; adjutant general
- 職務しょくむN1
professional duties
- 財務ざいむ
financial affairs
- 債務さいむ
debt; liabilities; obligation to a person or party (usu. legal or contractual)
- 実務じつむ
(practical) business; business practice; business affairs; (actual) work
- 外務省がいむしょうN2
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- 法務ほうむN1
judicial affairs
- 常務じょうむ
managing director; executive director
- 専務せんむN1
special duty; being in sole charge of a duty
- 義務付けぎむづけ
obligation
- 税務署ぜいむしょN2
tax office
- 公務こうむN2
official business; public business
- 責務せきむN1
duty; obligation
- 法務省ほうむしょう
Ministry of Justice
- 税務ぜいむ
taxation business
- 国務こくむ
affairs of state
Study
Etymology
務 combines 矛 (a spear or weapon) with 夂 (a foot or action) and 力 (strength), suggesting forceful effort applied to a task. The exact historical development is uncertain, but the components together convey the idea of duties requiring exertion.
Meaning mnemonic
A spear (矛) and action (夂) plus strength (力) make 務: imagine a warrior's duty to wield a spear with effort, representing any task that must be done.
Reading mnemonic
For ム, picture a cow mooing (ム) while pulling a heavy load, dutifully doing its task: moo -> ム.