负责
fùzé · HSK 3
be responsible for
📋 负 (bear/carry) + 责 (duty) = carry the duty = be responsible for
负 means to bear or shoulder (a burden), and 责 means duty or responsibility. Together: to shoulder the duty — i.e. to be in charge of or responsible for something. Common in 负责人 (person in charge).
负 — person 𠂉 (人) on top + cowrie shell 贝
Originally depicted a person carrying cowrie shells (money), showing someone bearing a load or owing wealth. From this came the meanings 'to carry on the back,' 'to bear a burden,' and by extension 'to owe' or 'negative.' The simplified form 负 keeps 贝 (shell/money) under a person.