Meaning
担 originally referred to carrying things with a shoulder pole balanced across the shoulders. It has extended meanings related to bearing responsibility or burdens. As a verb, it means to shoulder, carry, or take on duties. It's also used as a measure word for loads carried this way.
Usage
Most commonly appears in compounds like 担心 (to worry) and 担任 (to serve as). The standalone character 担 as a verb meaning 'to carry' is less common in modern speech than its compound forms. When used for responsibility, it often pairs with 责任 (responsibility). The measure word usage is mostly historical or regional.
Examples
- 01他担任公司的总经理已经三年了。.He has served as the company's general manager for three years.
- 02作为队长，她必须承担更多的责任。, .As team captain, she must bear more responsibility.
Common collocations
- 担责任to bear responsibility
- 担风险to take on risk
- 担重任to shoulder important responsibility
Antonyms
Origin
The traditional form 擔 combines the hand radical 扌 with 詹 (zhān), which provides the phonetic component. The character depicts the action of using hands to balance and carry loads.