责 zé duty
duty; one's responsibility
How to remember 责: 龶 plant + 贝 sea shell = duty. While Mom is away, the girl waters every plant and dusts the sea shell collection, because this week that is her duty.
Component breakdown
责 = 龶 plant + 贝 sea shell
- 龶 plant
- 贝 sea shell
While Mom is away, the girl waters every plant and dusts the sea shell collection, because this week that is her duty.
How it came to be
A thorn standing over a sea shell. Money with a barb in it is money that is owed, and being held to it is where blame and duty both come from.
How it is used
- Duty / responsibility, and to reproach - 责任 (zérèn) responsibility, 负责 (fùzé) be in charge, 职责 (zhízé) one's duties.
- The 'blame' sense: 指责 (zhǐzé) censure, 责怪 (zéguài) blame, 责备 (zébèi) reproach.
- 责任 vs 义务: 责任 is responsibility (accountability), 义务 (yìwù) is obligation/duty.
Characters built with 责
Words with 责
Example sentences
- 他负责教数学。 Tā fùzé jiāo shùxué.He is responsible for teaching mathematics.
- 儿女有责任赡养父母。 Érnǚ yǒu zérèn shànyǎng fùmǔ.It's the duty of children to care for their parents.