负

• Pinyin: fù
• Hanzi breakdown: 负 = 𠂉 (person leaning) + 贝 (shell/treasure) — carrying something valuable on one's back

Meaning

To bear; to carry; to shoulder (responsibility). To take on a burden or duty.

A versatile character with multiple meanings: (1) Bear/carry: 负担 (burden), 负重 (carry weight), 负责 (be responsible); (2) Negative: 负数 (negative number), 负面 (negative aspect); (3) Lose/owe: 胜负 (victory or defeat), 负债 (be in debt). The core meaning involves carrying something on one's back.

Examples

1. 作为项目负责人，他需要对整个团队的成果负责。 As the project leader, he needs to be responsible for the entire team's results.
2. 年轻人应该勇于负起社会责任，为社会做贡献。 Young people should bravely shoulder social responsibility and contribute to society.
3. 这场比赛最终以二比三负于对手，遗憾出局。 They ultimately lost this match two to three against their opponents and were regrettably eliminated.

Usage Guide

Context: responsibility, work, competition

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 谁来负责这个项目？(Who will be responsible for this project?)
• 不要给自己太大的负担。(Don't put too much burden on yourself.)

Don't Say

• 混淆负责和负担的用法 (Don't confuse 负责 (be responsible for) with 负担 (burden) — 负责是职责，负担是压力)

Origin & History

Pictograph of a person (人) carrying something on their back (贝, originally a shell used as currency). The concept extended from physical carrying to abstract burden-bearing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal