勤め

• Reading: つとめ
• Romaji: tsutome
• Kanji breakdown: 勤 (kin/tsuto) — work, serve diligently
• Pronunciation: /tsɯ.to.me/

Meaning

Work; employment; service. One's job or place of employment.

A noun form of 勤める (tsutomeru, to work at/be employed). Refers to regular employment or one's workplace. Common expressions: 勤め先 (tsutomesaki, one's workplace), 勤め人 (tsutomenin, office worker/salaried person), お勤め (otsutome, polite form for someone's job). Implies steady, regular employment.

Examples

1. 大学を卒業してから銀行に勤めている。 I've been working at a bank since I graduated from college.
2. 勤め先が家から遠いので毎日大変だ。 My workplace is far from home, so commuting every day is tough.
3. 父は長年の勤めを終えて定年退職した。 My father retired after many years of service.

Usage Guide

Context: work, career, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Noun form of 勤める. The kanji 勤 combines 堇 (clay) and 力 (power), suggesting diligent effort — working hard like moulding clay with strength.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: Adults

Social background: Working class