Japanese word

負担

Pronunciation

Romajifutan

Meaning

  • nounburden

Example

高い家賃は大きな負担です。taka i ya chin wa ō ki na fu tan de su

High rent is a heavy burden.

Illustration for 負担 (burden)

More examples

通学にかかる交通費が家計の負担になっています。tsū gaku ni ka ka ru kō tsū hi ga ka kei no fu tan ni na tte i ma su

Transportation costs for commuting are becoming a burden on the household budget.

Core concept

Describes a cost, duty, or difficulty that weighs on the person or group responsible for it.

Common phrases

  • 負担をかけるfu tan o ka ke ru

    put a burden on

  • 負担を減らすfu tan o he ra su

    reduce the burden

  • 負担になるfu tan ni na ru

    become a burden

  • 大きな負担ō ki na fu tan

    heavy burden

Similar words

重荷omoni: A difficult responsibility or problem that feels hard to carry.
負荷fuka: The amount of work, weight, or strain placed on a person or system.

Definition in Japanese

金銭や労力などを引き受けることで生じる重みや苦しさ。kin sen ya rō ryoku na do o hi ki u ke ru ko to de shō ji ru omo mi ya kuru shi sa

Word origin

The Sino-Japanese compound 負担 (futan, "burden") combines 負 (fu, "bear") and 担 (tan, "carry on the shoulders"), expressing something carried as a responsibility.

Usage tips

  • The compound 自己負担 (jikofutan) means a cost paid by the person receiving a service, a common use of 負担 (futan) in daily life.

Other meanings

  • loadnoun

Related words

  • 負担するfutansurubear the burdenverb
  • 負担感futankanfeeling of burdennoun

Word lists with this word