音読み: ム・ブ
訓読み: つとめる・つとまる
画数: 11
部首: ちから（力）
Meaning
Duty / Task / Work / Service
- Basic forms
- 努める — to make an effort; to strive / base form
- 努めます — make an effort / masu form
- 努めた — made an effort / ta form
- 努めて — make an effort and … / te-form
- 努めない — do not make an effort / negative
- 努めれば — if (you) make an effort / conditional
- Common expressions
- 成功に努める — strive for success
- 改善に努める — work toward improvement
- 努力に努める — make every effort
- More
- 努めたい — want to make an effort / 〜たい form
- 努めよう — let’s make an effort / 〜よう form
- 努めなかった — didn’t make an effort / past negative
- 努めている — is making an effort / progressive
努める（つとめる） is an ichidan verb. It is commonly used in formal or written contexts to express making a deliberate effort toward a goal.
- 勤務 — duty / service
- 公務 — public service
- 事務 — clerical work / office work
- 職務 — official duty / job responsibility
- 業務 — business operations / work
- 義務 — obligation / duty
- 任務 — mission / assignment
- 務める — to serve / to perform duty
The left part conveys the idea of gathering or assigning, and the right side 力 (power) means “strength.” Together, 務 expresses focused effort, responsibility, or official duty.