担当

• Pinyin: dān dāng
• Hanzi breakdown: 担 = 扌 + 旦 (to carry); 当 = 彐 + 田 (to serve, to match)

Meaning

To take on (a role or responsibility); a sense of responsibility and commitment to one's duties.

Used both as a verb (to shoulder a role) and as a noun describing someone who has a strong sense of responsibility. Particularly common in discussions of leadership, character, and workplace culture.

Examples

1. 优秀的管理者必须具备高度的担当精神。 Excellent managers must have a strong sense of responsibility and commitment.
2. 他敢于担当，在危机时刻做出了果断决定。 He dared to take responsibility and made a decisive decision at a moment of crisis.
3. 这个项目需要一个有担当的人来主导推进。 This project needs someone with a sense of responsibility to lead it forward.

Usage Guide

Context: leadership, workplace, character

Tone: positive

Do Say

• 他有担当，出了问题从不推责。(He has a sense of responsibility — he never passes the blame when problems arise.)
• 敢于担当是新时代干部的必备素质。(Courage to take responsibility is an essential quality for officials in the new era.)

Don't Say

• 他担当了这件衣服 — 担当 applies to roles and responsibilities, not physical objects; use 穿 for clothing or 承担费用 for costs

Origin & History

担 (to shoulder) + 当 (to serve as, to take charge)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal