在ざい役えき

Meanings

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

being in prison; incarceration

Refers to the state of serving a prison sentence. Often used in formal or legal contexts.

彼かれは現げん在ざい在ざい役えき中ちゅうで、来らい年ねん出しゅっ所しょ予よ定ていだ。
He is currently incarcerated and is scheduled for release next year.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

being in the military; active duty

Refers to the state of being on active military service. Can be used for conscripts or professional soldiers.

兄あには在ざい役えき中ちゅうに多おおくの訓くん練れんを受うけた。
My older brother underwent a lot of training while on active duty.

Kanji

在exist, outskirts, suburbs
役duty, war, campaign

Similar words

服ふく役えき
服役 specifically means serving a prison sentence, while 在役 can also refer to military service.
現げん役えき
現役 means currently active in a role (e.g., military, sports, work), whereas 在役 emphasizes the state of being in service, often with a formal or legal tone.

Etymology

Compound of 在 (ざい, 'to be at/in') and 役 (えき, 'service, duty'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the spelling is conventionally associated with being in a state of service, whether penal or military.