# 役 role

(goleft) + (throw) Same-ON
★★★★☆
7 strokes
LAZY

## Onyomi

YAKU |

## Mnemonic

| Your role is to go to the game and throw a ball at a YAK (FYI you are in the human/animal baseballympics)

## Kunyomi

やく | a role. Use this about actors (役を演ずる： play a role!) Also used about businessmen who hold a certain post of position. That's right: post or position, not just role. ★★★☆☆

## Jukugo

役に立つ(やくにたつ) | to work like it's supposed to ★★★☆☆ 役 (role) + 立 (stand up) = 役に立つ (to work like it's supposed to) to be useful, to work like it's supposed to (used about things, not humans)
役割(やくわり) | role ★★★☆☆ KUNKUN 役 (role) + 割 (divide) = 役割 (role) role, but more general and figurative than just 役（やく）。 Gay dudes who are top or bottom - that's 役割。 If your role is 'the black sheep of the family," that's 役割。 The guy in the boy-band who is "the edgy one." The person on the reality -tv show who is "the crazy one." The verb is 果たす（はたす）, as in XXX　の役割を果たす（ to play the role of XXX)
役人(やくにん) | bureaucrat ★★★☆☆ ABU 役 (role) + 人 (person) = 役人 (bureaucrat) a petty bureaucrat ass-grower like at the DMV. These are almost as unpopular in Japan as they are in the West, so maybe don't ask someone "Are you a 役人?" to their face.

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
役 | role | THROW |
径 | diameter | DUMP |

The pitcher's role is to THROW,

but if you gotta expand your sphincter's diameter, you gotta TAKE A DUMP .

## Synonyms

bureaucrat 官僚 役人
helpful, convenient 役に立つ 便利 都合がいい
role 役 役割