role

(goleft) + (throw) Same-ON
★★★★☆
7 strokes
LAZY

Onyomi

YAKU

Mnemonic

Your role is to go to the game and throw a ball at a YAK (FYI you are in the human/animal baseballympics)

Kunyomi

やく a role. Use this about actors (役を演ずる: play a role!) Also used about businessmen who hold a certain post of position. That's right: post or position, not just role.
★★★☆☆

Jukugo

役に立つ(やくにたつ)

to work like it's supposed to ★★★☆☆
(role) + (stand up) = 役に立つ (to work like it's supposed to)

to be useful, to work like it's supposed to (used about things, not humans)

役割(やくわり)

role ★★★☆☆ KUNKUN
(role) + (divide) = 役割 (role)

role, but more general and figurative than just 役(やく)。 Gay dudes who are top or bottom - that's 役割。 If your role is 'the black sheep of the family," that's 役割。 The guy in the boy-band who is "the edgy one." The person on the reality -tv show who is "the crazy one."

The verb is 果たす(はたす), as in XXX の役割を果たす( to play the role of XXX)

役人(やくにん)

bureaucrat ★★★☆☆ ABU
(role) + (person) = 役人 (bureaucrat)

a petty bureaucrat ass-grower like at the DMV. These are almost as unpopular in Japan as they are in the West, so maybe don't ask someone "Are you a 役人?" to their face.

Lookalikes

Meaning Hint Radical
role THROW
diameter DUMP

The pitcher's role is to THROW,

but if you gotta expand your sphincter's diameter, you gotta TAKE A DUMP .

Synonyms

bureaucrat
官僚    役人   
helpful, convenient
役に立つ    便利    都合がいい   
role
役    役割