役

Derived characters

 * 垼 䓈

Glyph origin
Originally – “to use (as labor), to enslave”.

Etymology
From with k-extension.

Definitions

 * 1)  to guard the borders
 * 2)  soldier
 * 3)  matter; event; incident
 * 4) war; military campaign
 * 5) forced labour
 * 6) military service
 * 7) labourer
 * 8) servant
 * 9) to use as a servant
 * 10)  to attract
 * 11)  student; disciple
 * 12)  duty; responsibility
 * 13)  low-ranking official
 * 14)  to arrange into rows
 * 15)  to help; to aid
 * 16)  to be; to act as
 * 17)  to practise; to act with

Kanji

 * 1) duty, office
 * 2) service
 * 3) role, part

Etymology 1
From. The goon reading, so likely the initial borrowing.

Noun

 * 1) role, service, use
 * 2)  hand, scoring combination

Suffix

 * 1) playing the role of...

Etymology 2
From.

The kan'on pronunciation, so likely a later borrowing.

Noun

 * 1) war; battle

Affix

 * 1) duty; service
 * 2) put to work, labor
 * 3) war; battle

Etymology
From.