Onyomi: キン, ゴン · Kunyomi: -づと.め, いそ.しむ, つと.まる, つと.める · Meanings: become employed, diligence, serve
Kanji for become employed, diligence, serve
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The kanji 勤 combines the “man/person” radical (力) with 堇, which represents a field or work area. Long ago, people imagined a person using their strength to diligently tend a field or perform tasks. The character captures the idea of **hard work, effort, and diligence** — someone applying their energy to complete a task carefully. Over time, 勤 came to symbolize not just physical labor, but diligence and dedication in all kinds of work.
勤 shows a person (力) putting effort into work (field/work area). It represents diligence, dedication, and working hard to achieve a goal.
Picture yourself using all your strength (力) to work in a field or complete an important task — every push of effort is 勤, diligence in action.
| Word | Reading | Meaning | Meta |
|---|---|---|---|
| 勤める | つとめる | to work (for), to be employed (at), to serve (in) | common JLPT-N2 JLPT-N5 Ichidan verb, Transitive verb |
| 勤め | つとめ | service, duty, business, responsibility, task | common JLPT-N3 Noun |
| 勤勉 | きんべん | diligent, hard-working, industrious | common JLPT-N1 Na-adjective (keiyodoshi), Noun |
| 勤務 | きんむ | service, duty, work | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 勤労 | きんろう | labor, labour, exertion, diligent service | common JLPT-N1 Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 勤め先 | つとめさき | place of work | common JLPT-N1 Noun |
| 務まる | つとまる | to be fit (for a role), to be qualified (for), to be equal (to a task), to be able to fulfill one's duties (as) | JLPT-N1 Godan verb with 'ru' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 勤続 | きんぞく | continuous service | common Noun, Suru verb, Intransitive verb |
| 勤務時間 | きんむじかん | office hours, business hours, working hours | common Noun |
| 勤め口 | つとめぐち | position, place of employment | Noun |
| 勤務先 | きんむさき | place of employment | Noun |
| 勤しむ | いそしむ | to work hard at, to devote oneself to, to be diligent in | Godan verb with 'mu' ending, Intransitive verb |
| 勤務中 | きんむちゅう | on duty, at work, while working | Noun, Adverb (fukushi) |
| 勤労者 | きんろうしゃ | worker | common Noun |
| 勤め人 | つとめにん | office worker, salaried worker, white-collar worker | Noun |