责任 (zérèn) — responsibility / duty
HSK 3 | noun | an obligation one is accountable for; a duty that must be fulfilled
责任 (zérèn)
责任 refers to a responsibility or duty that a person is expected to fulfill and is accountable for. It carries a moral weight — having 责任 means you own the outcome. The key phrases 负责任 (be responsible) and 有责任 (have a responsibility) are very common.
Meanings
- [noun] Responsibility; duty; obligation.
- [noun] Accountability; blame (when something goes wrong).
Example Sentences
父母有责任照顾好自己的孩子。 Fùmǔ yǒu zérèn zhàogù hǎo zìjǐ de háizi. Parents have a responsibility to take good care of their children.
他是一个很有责任感的人。 Tā shì yīgè hěn yǒu zérèngǎn de rén. He is a person with a strong sense of responsibility.
这件事的责任在我，不在你。 Zhè jiàn shì de zérèn zài wǒ, bù zài nǐ. The responsibility for this matter lies with me, not you.
作为经理，你要负责任。 Zuòwéi jīnglǐ, nǐ yào fù zérèn. As a manager, you must be responsible.
Collocations
| Collocation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 负责任 | to be responsible / take responsibility |
| 有责任 | to have a responsibility |
| 责任感 | sense of responsibility |
| 承担责任 | to bear / take on responsibility |
| 推卸责任 | to shirk responsibility |
Memory Hook
责 means "to demand / reproach" and 任 means "to take on / bear." Responsibility is what you take on and can be reproached for if you fail — it weighs on you from both directions.