责任
HSK 4 (exam 2025)HSK 3 (2021)Old HSK 4
责任 (zérèn) · responsibility
责任 (zérèn) means “responsibility; duty”. It is written with 2 characters: 责 (one's responsibility) + 任 (to let). It is an HSK 4 word in the current exam syllabus (2025).
How 责任 is built
The characters
责 zé · one's responsibility
What 责 is made of
- 龶 — top part
- 贝bèi — sea shell
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 人rén — person
- 冂 — frame
Origin hint: Money 贝 that must be repaid (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
任 rèn · to let
What 任 is made of
- 亻rén — person
- 壬rén — 9th heavenly stem
- 丿 — falling stroke
- 士shì — scholar
Origin hint: 亻 gives the meaning, 壬 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
照顾孩子是父母的责任。Zhàogù háizi shì fùmǔ de zérèn.Taking care of children is the parents' responsibility.
这是谁的责任？Zhè shì shéi de zérèn?Whose responsibility is this?
Questions about 责任
What does 责任 mean?
责任 (zérèn) means “responsibility; duty”.
How do you pronounce 责任?
责任 is pronounced zérèn.
Which HSK level is 责任?
责任 is in HSK 4 (exam 2025) and HSK 3 (2021) and Old HSK 4.
Related words
- 负责fùzéto be in charge of
- 责备zébèito blame
- 谴责qiǎnzéto condemn
- 责怪zéguàito blame
- 指责zhǐzéto criticise
- 负责人fùzérénperson in charge
- 任何rènhéany
- 任务rènwutask
- 信任xìnrènto trust
- 主任zhǔrèndirector
Learn 责任 with its group
It is part of HSK 3 (2021) · Group 95: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.