役(やく)

やく
noun
role, part, duty
society-roleentertainment
1. role, part
A character or part played by an actor in a performance, film, or play.
主役(しゅやく)の役(やく)をもらった。
I got the lead role.
彼女(かのじょ)は悪(わる)い役(やく)ばかり演(えん)じている。
She always plays villain roles.
この映画(えいが)で初(はじ)めて父親(ちちおや)の役(やく)に挑戦(ちょうせん)した。
In this film, I took on the role of a father for the first time.
2. role, duty, position
A function, responsibility, or official position assigned to someone in a group or organization.
司会(しかい)の役(やく)を任(まか)された。
I was assigned the role of emcee.
誰(だれ)かがリーダーの役(やく)をやらないといけない。
Someone has to take on the role of leader.
会議(かいぎ)では書記(しょき)の役(やく)を引(ひ)き受(う)けることが多(おお)い。
I often take on the role of note-taker at meetings.

Usage

Sense 1 is common in theater, film, and television contexts. Sense 2 extends to any assigned function within a group. Often combined with other words to form compounds: 主役(しゅやく) (lead role), 脇役(わきやく) (supporting role), 悪役(あくやく) (villain role), 適役(てきやく) (well-suited role).

Common collocations

Related Words

Compare: ロール (roll)
general
Added 2026.2.21 22:22 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
12500/12557_yaku