Meaning and Usage
"勤め" (つとめ) primarily refers to one's work or employment, especially the place where one is employed. It is often used to talk about the company or organization where someone works.
Common Contexts
You will frequently hear "勤め" in phrases like "勤め先" (つとめさき), meaning "place of employment" or "workplace." It can also describe the act of working at a company, as in "会社に勤める" (to work at a company).
Collocations and Patterns
- 勤める (つとめる): to work for, to be employed at
- 勤め先 (つとめさき): workplace, place of employment
- 長年勤める (ながねんつとめる): to work for many years
Register and Nuance
"勤め" is a neutral term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is more common in spoken and written Japanese when referring to employment in a respectful or factual manner.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "勤め" with "務め" which can also be read as "つとめ" but often means "duty" or "role." Context will usually clarify which meaning is intended. When talking about employment, "勤め" is the correct kanji.