演(えん)じる

えんじる
verb (ichidan)
to perform, to play (a role)
他動詞 transitiveartaction
Conjugation
AffirmativeNegative
Present演(えん)じる演(えん)じない
Present polite演(えん)じます演(えん)じません
Past演(えん)じた演(えん)じなかった
Past polite演(えん)じました演(えん)じませんでした
て form演(えん)じて演(えん)じなくて
ている present演(えん)じている演(えん)じていない
ている polite演(えん)じています演(えん)じていません
ている past演(えん)じていた演(えん)じていなかった
ている past polite演(えん)じていました演(えん)じていませんでした
Conditional ば演(えん)じれば演(えん)じなければ
Conditional たら演(えん)じたら演(えん)じなかったら
Volitional演(えん)じよう—
Volitional polite演(えん)じましょう—
Potential演(えん)じられる演(えん)じられない
Passive演(えん)じられる演(えん)じられない
Causative演(えん)じさせる演(えん)じさせない
Imperative演(えん)じろ演(えん)じるな
1. to perform, to play (a role), to act
To portray a character on stage, in film, or in other performances. Also used figuratively for playing a role or part in real life.
She played the lead role.
It's said that playing the villain is difficult.
He plays an important role within the team.

Usage

Takes を to mark the role being performed: 役(やく)を演(えん)じる (to play a role). The figurative usage (役割(やくわり)を演(えん)じる — to play a role/part in something) is also very common.

Related to the noun 演技(えんぎ) (acting, performance). An older variant form is 演(えん)ずる.

Common collocations