役やく

noun

role; duty; function; responsibility

Broad use for a role someone or something has, including an assigned job, a responsibility, a function, or useful service. Very common in compounds such as 調整役 and 会計役 and in phrases such as 役を果たす.

• 私わたしは忘ぼう年ねん会かいの会かい計けい役やくになった。

  I was put in charge of the accounting for the year-end party.

• この部ぶ品ひんは機き械かいの熱ねつを逃にがす役やくを果はたしている。

  This part serves the function of releasing heat from the machine.

noun

post; office; position of responsibility

Used for a position or office that carries responsibility, often in an organization, committee, neighborhood association, PTA, and similar settings.

• 今年ことしは自じ治ち会かいの役やくが回まわってきた。

  This year a position in the residents' association came around to me.

noun

part; acting role; character

Used for a role or character played in a play, film, drama, or similar performance. Common with 演じる, 務める, and names of characters or social roles.

• 彼かの女じょは舞ぶ台たいで母はは親おやの役やくを演えんじた。

  She played the role of the mother on stage.

noun

scoring combination; winning hand; yaku

Game term used in mahjong, hanafuda, and some card games for a recognized pattern or combination that scores points or makes a hand valid. Often left as “yaku” in English discussions of mahjong.

• 麻雀まーじゃんでは、役やくがない手てでは上あがれない。

  In mahjong, you cannot win with a hand that has no yaku.