noun
role; duty; function; responsibility
Broad use for a role someone or something has, including an assigned job, a responsibility, a function, or useful service. Very common in compounds such as 調整役 and 会計役 and in phrases such as 役を果たす.
私は忘年会の会計役になった。
I was put in charge of the accounting for the year-end party.
この部品は機械の熱を逃がす役を果たしている。
This part serves the function of releasing heat from the machine.
noun
post; office; position of responsibility
Used for a position or office that carries responsibility, often in an organization, committee, neighborhood association, PTA, and similar settings.
今年は自治会の役が回ってきた。
This year a position in the residents' association came around to me.
noun
Used for a role or character played in a play, film, drama, or similar performance. Common with 演じる, 務める, and names of characters or social roles.
彼女は舞台で母親の役を演じた。
She played the role of the mother on stage.
noun
scoring combination; winning hand; yaku
Game term used in mahjong, hanafuda, and some card games for a recognized pattern or combination that scores points or makes a hand valid. Often left as “yaku” in English discussions of mahjong.
麻雀では、役がない手では上がれない。
In mahjong, you cannot win with a hand that has no yaku.