Readings: キン (Onyomi), つと-める, -づと-め (Kunyomi)
Meaning: diligence, serve, work, employment
The kanji 勤 combines 堇 (kin – diligent, attentive, a small flower, often implies effort) and 力 (chikara – strength, power). Together, it depicts applying one’s strength or effort to be diligent, serve, or work.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 勤 has 12 strokes. Start with the left radical 艹 (grass radical, here as a component), followed by the central part, and finishing with the bottom 力 radical. Pay attention to the order and direction of each stroke for proper formation.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 力 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- キン (KIN)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- つとめる (tsutomeru)
Common Words Using 勤
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勤務 | きんむ | service; duty; work |
| 通勤 | つうきん | commuting to work |
| 出勤 | しゅっきん | going to work; attendance |
| 勤労 | きんろう | labor; diligence |
| 勤勉 | きんべん | diligence; industriousness |
| 勤続 | きんぞく | continuous service |
| 皆勤 | かいきん | perfect attendance |
| 欠勤 | けっきん | absence from work |
| 夜勤 | やきん | night duty |
| 精勤 | せいきん | diligence; assiduity |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 勤める | つとめる | to work for; to be employed at; to serve |
| 勤め | つとめ | service; duty; work |
| 勤め先 | つとめさき | place of employment |
| 勤め人 | つとめにん | employee; salaried worker |
| 勤め口 | つとめぐち | job; place of work |
| お勤め | おつとめ | work; duty (polite) |
| 勤め上げる | つとめあげる | to complete one’s service; to retire |
| 勤めに出る | つとめにでる | to go to work |
| 勤めを果たす | つとめをはたす | to fulfill one’s duty |
| 勤め帰り | つとめがえり | on the way home from work |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 彼は会社に勤務しています。
Kana: かれはかいしゃにきんむしています。
Romaji: Kare wa kaisha ni kinmu shiteimasu.
English: He works for the company.
Japanese: 私は毎日電車で通勤しています。
Kana: わたしはまいにちでんしゃでつうきんしています。
Romaji: Watashi wa mainichi densha de tsūkin shiteimasu.
English: I commute by train every day.
Japanese: 明日は朝早く出勤します。
Kana: あしたはあさはやくしゅっきんします。
Romaji: Ashita wa asa hayaku shukkin shimasu.
English: I will go to work early tomorrow morning.
Japanese: 彼女は銀行に勤めています。
Kana: かのじょはぎんこうにつとめています。
Romaji: Kanojo wa ginkō ni tsutometeimasu.
English: She works at a bank.
Japanese: 彼はとても勤勉な学生です。
Kana: かれはとてもきんべんながくせいです。
Romaji: Kare wa totemo kinben na gakusei desu.
English: He is a very diligent student.
Japanese: 勤労感謝の日は日本の祝日です。
Kana: きんろうかんしゃのひはにほんのしゅくじつです。
Romaji: Kinrō Kansha no Hi wa Nihon no shukujitsu desu.
English: Labor Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in Japan.
Japanese: 彼の勤め先は駅から近いです。
Kana: かれのつとめさきはえきからちかいです。
Romaji: Kare no tsutomesaki wa eki kara chikai desu.
English: His workplace is close to the station.
Japanese: 彼は高校時代、皆勤でした。
Kana: かれはこうこうじだい、かいきんでした。
Romaji: Kare wa kōkō jidai, kaikin deshita.
English: He had perfect attendance during his high school days.
Japanese: 今週は夜勤で忙しいです。
Kana: こんしゅうはやきんでいそがしいです。
Romaji: Konshū wa yakin de isogashii desu.
English: I am busy with night duty this week.
Japanese: 彼は勤続30年で表彰されました。
Kana: かれはきんぞくさんじゅうねんでひょうしょうされました。
Romaji: Kare wa kinzoku sanjū-nen de hyōshō saremashita.
English: He was honored for 30 years of continuous service.
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