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--- 责任 [2025/08/06 01:40] – created xiaoer
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-====== zérèn: 责任 - Responsibility, Duty, Obligation ======
-===== Quick Summary =====
-  * **Keywords:** zeren, zérèn, 责任, responsibility in Chinese, duty in Chinese, obligation Chinese, sense of responsibility, fù zérèn, 承担责任, Chinese culture responsibility, zeren meaning, what is zeren
-  * **Summary:** Discover the deep meaning of **责任 (zérèn)**, a core concept in Chinese culture that translates to "responsibility" or "duty." This page explores how `zérèn` goes beyond a simple task, representing a profound moral and social obligation tied to one's role in family, work, and society. Learn how to use it correctly in conversation, understand its cultural significance, and see why having a strong sense of `zérèn` is one of the most respected traits in China.
-===== Core Meaning =====
-  * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** zérèn
-  * **Part of Speech:** Noun
-  * **HSK Level:** HSK 4
-  * **Concise Definition:** A responsibility, duty, or obligation that one is accountable for.
-  * **In a Nutshell:** `责任` is more than just "responsibility" in the Western sense of a task you need to complete. It's a deep-seated sense of duty and accountability that is fundamental to one's identity and social standing. It implies a weight and a moral commitment to your family, your job, and your community. Fulfilling your `责任` is a matter of honor, while failing to do so brings shame.
-===== Character Breakdown =====
-  * **责 (zé):** This character originally depicted a thorny plant, evolving to mean demanding payment or placing a burden on someone. Today, its primary meanings are "to blame," "to reproach," or "duty." Think of it as the duty you can be //blamed// for if you neglect it.
-  * **任 (rèn):** This character shows a person (人) carrying a burden or a task. It means "to appoint," "to assign," or "a duty/post." It represents the task or position that has been entrusted to a person.
-When combined, **责任 (zérèn)** creates a powerful compound word: a **duty (任)** for which you are held **accountable (责)**. It is a burden you must carry and for which you will be judged.
-===== Cultural Context and Significance =====
-In Chinese culture, `责任` is a cornerstone value, heavily influenced by Confucianism. It is not merely an individual choice but a fundamental social and moral expectation tied to one's specific role in a highly structured society.
-A key difference from the Western concept of "responsibility" is the source of the obligation. In the West, responsibility is often viewed as something an individual *chooses* to take on, stemming from personal principles or a formal agreement (like a job contract). In China, `责任` is often inherent to your role and relationships. For example:
-  *   A son or daughter has an innate `责任` to care for their aging parents (**[[孝顺]] (xiàoshùn)**, or filial piety). This is not seen as a choice but as a natural, moral law.
-  *   An employee has a `责任` not just to complete their tasks but to contribute to the harmony and success of the collective group.
-This concept is deeply tied to collectivism, where the well-being of the group (family, company, nation) often takes precedence over individual desires. A person with a strong sense of `责任` (often described as **有责任心, yǒu zérènxīn**) is seen as mature, reliable, and honorable. Conversely, someone who **推卸责任 (tuīxiè zérèn)**, or "shirks responsibility," is viewed with extreme disdain.
-===== Practical Usage in Modern China =====
-`责任` is a serious and common word used across all facets of life.
-  * **In the Family:** It's frequently used to discuss the duties of parents to children and, very importantly, the duty of adult children to their parents. It's the bedrock of family structure.
-  * **In the Workplace:** A job interview or performance review will almost certainly touch upon an individual's `责任感` (zérèngǎn) or `责任心` (zérènxīn) - their "sense of responsibility." It's one of the most desirable qualities in an employee. A manager might say, "这个项目是你的责任" (This project is your responsibility).
-  * **In Society and Law:** The term is used to discuss social, legal, and corporate accountability. News reports often discuss a company's "社会责任" (shèhuì zérèn - social responsibility) or the legal "法律责任" (fǎlǜ zérèn - legal liability).
-The connotation is almost always serious and positive. To praise someone for their `责任` is a high compliment.
-===== Example Sentences =====
-  * **Example 1:**
-    * 这是我的**责任**。
-    * Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ de **zérèn**.
-    * English: This is my responsibility.
-    * Analysis: A simple, direct, and powerful statement. It's an acceptance of duty and accountability. It can be used for anything from a small task to a major life obligation.
-  * **Example 2:**
-    * 他是一个很有**责任**心的人。
-    * Pinyin: Tā shì yīgè hěn yǒu **zérèn**xīn de rén.
-    * English: He is a very responsible person.
-    * Analysis: Here, `责任` is part of the compound `责任心` (zérènxīn), which means "sense of responsibility" (literally "responsibility heart"). This is a common and high praise for someone's character.
-  * **Example 3:**
-    * 保护环境是每个公民的**责任**。
-    * Pinyin: Bǎohù huánjìng shì měi gè gōngmín de **zérèn**.
-    * English: Protecting the environment is every citizen's responsibility.
-    * Analysis: This shows `责任` used in a broad, societal context. It frames environmental protection as a civic duty, not just a personal preference.
-  * **Example 4:**
-    * 出了问题，你必须承担**责任**。
-    * Pinyin: Chūle wèntí, nǐ bìxū chéngdān **zérèn**.
-    * English: If a problem arises, you must bear the responsibility.
-    * Analysis: The phrase `承担责任` (chéngdān zérèn) is a very common collocation meaning "to bear/shoulder responsibility." It's often used when things go wrong.
-  * **Example 5:**
-    * 作为父母，他们有教育孩子的**责任**。
-    * Pinyin: Zuòwéi fùmǔ, tāmen yǒu jiàoyù háizi de **zérèn**.
-    * English: As parents, they have the responsibility to educate their children.
-    * Analysis: This example highlights the role-based nature of `责任`. The responsibility exists //because// they are parents.
-  * **Example 6:**
-    * 他总是试图推卸**责任**，所以没人信任他。
-    * Pinyin: Tā zǒngshì shìtú tuīxiè **zérèn**, suǒyǐ méi rén xìnrèn tā.
-    * English: He always tries to shirk responsibility, so nobody trusts him.
-    * Analysis: `推卸责任` (tuīxiè zérèn) is the direct antonym of `承担责任`. It's a very negative phrase used to describe someone who blames others and avoids accountability.
-  * **Example 7:**
-    * 这份工作的**责任**太重了。
-    * Pinyin: Zhè fèn gōngzuò de **zérèn** tài zhòng le.
-    * English: The responsibility of this job is too heavy.
-    * Analysis: This sentence illustrates the "weight" associated with `责任`. The adjective used is `重` (zhòng), meaning "heavy."
-  * **Example 8:**
-    * 事故的**责任**在于司机。
-    * Pinyin: Shìgù de **zérèn** zàiyú sījī.
-    * English: The responsibility for the accident lies with the driver.
-    * Analysis: This demonstrates how `责任` is used to assign fault or liability in a formal or legal sense.
-  * **Example 9:**
-    * 你要对自己的选择负**责任**。
-    * Pinyin: Nǐ yào duì zìjǐ de xuǎnzé fù **zérèn**.
-    * English: You need to be responsible for your own choices.
-    * Analysis: This uses the common structure `对...负责任` (duì...fù zérèn), which means "to be responsible for...". It's slightly different from the verb `负责` (fùzé) and emphasizes taking accountability.
-  * **Example 10:**
-    * 公司的首要**责任**是确保产品安全。
-    * Pinyin: Gōngsī de shǒuyào **zérèn** shì quèbǎo chǎnpǐn ānquán.
-    * English: The company's primary responsibility is to ensure product safety.
-    * Analysis: This shows `责任` in a corporate context, defining a primary duty or mission.
-===== Nuances and Common Mistakes =====
-  * **`责任` (noun) vs. `负责` (verb):** This is the most common mistake for learners. `责任` is the //concept// of responsibility, a noun. `负责` (fùzé) is the //action// of being responsible for something, a verb.
-    * **Incorrect:** 我**责任**这个项目。(I responsibility this project.)
-    * **Correct:** 我**负责**这个项目。(I am responsible for this project.)
-    * **Correct:** 这个项目是我的**责任**。(This project is my responsibility.)
-  * **"Responsibility" vs. `责任`:** Be careful not to use `责任` for very light or trivial duties. In English, you might say, "It's my responsibility to bring the coffee." In Chinese, this would sound overly serious. For such a situation, you'd more likely use `轮到我` (lún dào wǒ - it's my turn) or simply say `我来带咖啡` (wǒ lái dài kāfēi - I'll bring the coffee). `责任` implies a moral or significant duty.
-===== Related Terms and Concepts =====
-  * **[[负责]] (fùzé):** The verb "to be in charge of" or "to be responsible for." The action counterpart to the noun `责任`.
-  * **[[义务]] (yìwù):** A duty or obligation, often with a legal or compulsory connotation (e.g., `义务教育` - compulsory education). It's more formal and less personal than `责任`.
-  * **[[职责]] (zhízé):** Duties and responsibilities specifically associated with a job, post, or office. It's a subset of `责任`.
-  * **[[责任感]] (zérèngǎn):** "Sense of responsibility." A personal quality or trait. `感` means "sense" or "feeling."
-  * **[[责任心]] (zérènxīn):** "Heart of responsibility." Very similar to `责任感`, it describes the internal, moral compass that drives a person to be responsible.
-  * **[[担当]] (dāndāng):** (Verb) To take on or shoulder a major responsibility, often with courage and initiative. It's an admirable action.
-  * **[[承担责任]] (chéngdān zérèn):** A common verb phrase meaning "to bear/shoulder responsibility," especially after a problem occurs.
-  * **[[推卸责任]] (tuīxiè zérèn):** A common verb phrase and the direct antonym of the above; "to shirk/evade responsibility."
-  * **[[孝顺]] (xiàoshùn):** Filial piety; the cultural responsibility of children to respect, obey, and care for their parents. A prime example of a core `责任`.