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Kotomora

務

task, duties

JLPTN3StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 200Strokes11

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

Explore all words using 務 →

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.