担负

• Pinyin: dān fù
• Hanzi breakdown: 担 = 扌 + 旦 (to shoulder); 负 = 刀 + 贝 (to bear, to owe)

Meaning

To shoulder; to bear (a mission, task, or responsibility); to be responsible for.

Slightly more formal than 承担, often used in official or literary language to describe taking on significant duties or burdens. Common in political discourse and formal documents.

Examples

1. 这支部队担负着保卫边境的重要使命。 This unit shoulders the important mission of defending the border.
2. 她担负着整个项目的策划与协调工作。 She is responsible for the planning and coordination of the entire project.
3. 作为教师，他担负着培养下一代的社会责任。 As a teacher, he bears the social responsibility of cultivating the next generation.

Usage Guide

Context: military, work, government, education

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 该部门担负着全市应急响应的职责。(This department bears responsibility for the city's emergency response.)
• 他担负着培训新员工的任务。(He is tasked with training new employees.)

Don't Say

• 担负贷款 — for financial obligations, 承担 or 偿还 is more natural; 担负 is reserved for missions, duties, and roles

Origin & History

担 (to carry) + 负 (to bear, to take on)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal