Meaning and Usage
The verb 勤める (つとめる) primarily means "to work for" or "to be employed at" a company, organization, or institution. It is commonly used to describe someone's place of employment or the act of holding a job.
Common Contexts
勤める is often used with locations or companies, such as 銀行に勤める (to work at a bank) or 会社に勤める (to work at a company). It emphasizes the relationship between the employee and the workplace.
Collocations and Patterns
- 会社に勤める: to work for a company
- 学校に勤める: to work at a school
- 銀行に勤める: to work at a bank
These phrases are very common in daily conversation when talking about employment.
Register and Politeness
勤める is a neutral verb suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It is often used in polite speech when combined with います (勤めています).
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse 勤める with 働く (はたらく), which also means "to work." The difference is that 働く focuses on the action of working itself, while 勤める emphasizes the place or organization where one works. For example, 勤める is used with a company name, while 働く can be used more generally.