役

Core theme is compulsory service imposed by a higher authority (state or lord).

• Labor and Conscription: Mandatory corvée labor (e.g., infrastructure, agriculture) or labor performed as a penal sentence.
• Military Service: The drafting of soldiers or the act of being on a military campaign.
• The Agent: A person performing the service, such as a forced laborer, conscript, servant, or low-level functionary; typically implies systemic or feudal obligation rather than domestic employment.
• Official Duty: In more formalized contexts, the specific duties associated with an office.

• Noun: The duty/burden itself; the period of service; the person performing the service.
• Verb: To employ, conscript, or force into labor (typically where the subject is the authority and the object is the one utilized).

役 vs. 事 (shì): While both relate to serving or working, 事 refers to the specific task or matter at hand, whereas 役 refers to the status of the person and the obligation that compels them.

The glyph carries an inherent weight of authority and compulsion; avoid terms that imply voluntary service or domestic help. Depending on the tone of the passage, "conscript," "laborer," or "obligatory service" may be more accurate than "servant."