noun
duty; obligation; responsibility
Refers to a moral, legal, or social duty that one is expected to fulfill. Often used in formal contexts such as law, ethics, and institutional rules.
国民には納税の義務がある。
Citizens have a duty to pay taxes.
彼は義務を果たすために全力を尽くした。
He did his best to fulfill his obligations.
責任 (responsibility) focuses on accountability for outcomes, while 義務 (duty) emphasizes a binding requirement or obligation, often imposed externally.
役目 (role, task) is a specific function or job one is expected to perform, often in a social or organizational setting, whereas 義務 is a broader, more formal obligation.
Sino-Japanese word composed of 義 (righteousness, justice) and 務 (task, duty). The combination conveys a sense of a just or proper task one must perform.