Chinese word

担

Pronunciation

Pinyindān

Meaning

  • verbcarry

Example

这担子太重，大家帮着担一下。zhè dàn zi tài zhòng dà jiā bāng zhe dān yí xià

This load is too heavy, so everyone, help carry it.

Illustration for 担 (carry)

More examples

他愿意担起这个项目的全部责任。tā yuàn yì dān qǐ zhè ge xiàng mù dì quán bù zé rèn

He is willing to take full responsibility for this project.

Core concept

Hold up something heavy, whether it is an object in the hands or a responsibility in life.

Common phrases

  • 承担责任chéng dān zé rèn

    take responsibility

  • 承担任务chéng dān rèn wù

    take on a task

  • 担心dān xīn

    worry

Similar words

承担chéng dān: Take on and bear a responsibility, duty, or burden.
负责fù zé: Be responsible for a task or duty and manage it.
背负bēi fù: Carry a load or weight on the back.
扛káng: Support and carry a heavy object with the shoulders or arms.

Definition in Chinese

承担或承受工作、责任、负担，也指用肩或手搬运重物。chéng dān huò chéng shòu gōng zuò zé rèn fù dān yě zhǐ yòng jiān huò shǒu bān yùn zhòng wù

Word origin

担 (dàn, "carry") comes from a traditional character built around the hand, reflecting a physical action that extends naturally to shouldering duties and burdens.

Usage tips

  • English often separates physical carrying from accepting responsibility, but Chinese uses this verb across both settings, which makes it useful in conversations about shared work and duties.

Other meanings

  • take onverb
  • shoulderverb
  • bearverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word