任務

• Reading: にんむ
• Romaji: ninmu
• Kanji breakdown: 任 (nin) — responsibility, entrust; 務 (mu) — duty, service
• Pronunciation: /niɴ.mɯ/

Meaning

Duty; mission; task; an assigned role or responsibility.

A formal noun used to describe official duties, missions, or assignments. Common in military, government, and professional contexts. Key collocations include 任務を遂行する (to carry out a mission), 任務完了 (mission complete), and 重要な任務 (an important duty). More formal and weighty than 仕事 (shigoto, work) or 役割 (yakuwari, role).

Examples

1. 彼は海外での任務を無事に終えて帰国した。 He completed his overseas mission safely and returned home.
2. 消防士の任務は人命救助だけではない。 A firefighter's duties are not limited to saving lives.
3. 今回の任務は極めて重要なものだと説明された。 We were told that this mission is extremely important.

Usage Guide

Context: military, government, professional, fiction

Tone: serious

Origin & History

From 任 (nin, responsibility/entrust) + 務 (mu, duty/service). Both kanji relate to obligation, creating a compound that emphasises assigned responsibility.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal