Meaning
承担 means to take on or shoulder responsibility, costs, consequences, or duties. It emphasizes willingly or dutifully accepting something, often something difficult or burdensome. The word combines 承 (to bear/receive) and 担 (to carry on the shoulder), creating a vivid image of carrying a load.
Usage
承担 is formal and commonly used in professional, legal, and written contexts. It frequently appears with abstract nouns like responsibility (责任), consequences (后果), costs (费用), or risks (风险). Native speakers use it when discussing who takes responsibility for outcomes, payments, or obligations.
Examples
- 01每个人都应该为自己的行为承担责任。.Everyone should bear responsibility for their own actions.
- 02公司将承担所有的维修费用。.The company will bear all the repair costs.
Characters
Common collocations
- 承担责任to bear responsibility
- 承担后果to bear the consequences
- 承担费用to bear the costs
- 承担风险to assume risk
Antonyms
Origin
The character 承 originally depicted hands receiving or holding something from above, while 担 shows a person carrying loads on both ends of a shoulder pole. Together they create the metaphor of receiving and carrying a burden or responsibility.