负责 (fù zé) is a verb meaning 'to be responsible for' or 'to take responsibility for' something. The character 负 (fù) originally meant 'to bear' or 'to carry', like bearing a physical load; 责 (zé) means 'duty', 'obligation', or 'blame'. Together, they convey the idea of shouldering a duty or accountability — not just passive involvement, but active commitment to an outcome or task. It’s commonly used in work, family, and academic contexts.

This word typically appears before a noun or noun phrase indicating what one is responsible for (e.g., 负责项目, 负责孩子), or with 的 to form an attributive phrase (e.g., 负责的老师). It can also function as a predicate adjective ('He is responsible') when followed by 是 or other copulas, though more often it's used transitively. It implies seriousness and reliability — someone who 负责 is trusted to follow through.