Fluentide
HSK 4

负责

to be responsible for; responsible

verbneutral1 episode
4th tone
2nd tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
fùzé
Part of speech
verb
Level
HSK 4
Strokes
14
Register
neutral
In episodes
1

Stroke order for 负责

负责 is written with 14 strokes (: 6, : 8). The animation replays automatically.

What does 负责 mean?

负责 (fùzé) means 'to be in charge of / take responsibility for' and, as an adjective, 'responsible / conscientious.'

As a verb it takes what you're responsible for with 负责 + object or ...负责: 他负责这个项目 (he's in charge of this project), 对结果负责 (be answerable for the results). As an adjective it praises a person's character: 他工作很负责 (he's very conscientious at work). It is neutral and common at work and school.

English speakers should note it covers two English senses that split apart: being 'in charge of / handling' a task, and being a 'responsible, reliable' person. The characters read 'bear + duty' — to shoulder one's obligation. A related caution: 负责 is answerability going forward, while 负责任 (fù zérèn) emphasizes the quality of being dutiful.

Character by character

to bear; to carry (a burden)
+
duty; responsibility; to demand
=
负责

Memory hook: 负 (bear) + 责 (duty) = to shoulder the duty → be responsible for it.

Hear 负责 in real episodes

负责 appears in 1 Fluentide podcast episode at natural native speed. Each sentence plays at the easiest difficulty it exists in — switch it to hear the same moment at your level, with full pinyin and English throughout.

HYROX 的负责人后来公开道歉。

The person in charge of HYROX later apologized publicly.

HYROX Changes Rules After Beijing Bowel Accident

Difficulty
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Example sentences

这个项目由我负责。

Zhège xiàngmù yóu wǒ fùzé.

I'm in charge of this project.

neutral

他工作很认真,也很负责。

Tā gōngzuò hěn rènzhēn, yě hěn fùzé.

He works hard and is very conscientious.

neutral

谁负责这次活动的安排?

Shéi fùzé zhè cì huódòng de ānpái?

Who's responsible for arranging this event?

spoken

做人要对自己的选择负责。

Zuòrén yào duì zìjǐ de xuǎnzé fùzé.

You should take responsibility for your own choices.

written

Common phrases with 负责

负责任fù zérènresponsible; dutiful
负责人fùzérénperson in charge
对...负责duì...fùzéto be answerable for...
认真负责rènzhēn fùzédiligent and conscientious

Synonyms

管理guǎnlǐ

管理 means 'to manage / administer' — the ongoing work of running something (managing staff, a system). 负责 emphasizes bearing responsibility and being answerable, which may or may not involve hands-on management.

承担chéngdān

承担 means 'to undertake / bear' (a cost, a duty, consequences) and is more formal. 负责 is the everyday word for being in charge of a task or being conscientious.

Don't confuse 负责 with

复杂fùzá

复杂 (complicated) sounds close to 负责 and shares an fù syllable but means 'complex,' not 'responsible.' Different first characters (负 bear vs 复 layered).

服务fúwù

服务 (to serve / service) starts with a similar sound but means providing a service, not taking responsibility. 负责 = be in charge of; 服务 = serve.

FAQ

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