‘责任’ (zérèn) is a noun meaning 'responsibility' — the duty or obligation to act, decide, or care for something or someone. The character 责 (zé) means 'to blame' or 'to demand', carrying a sense of accountability; 任 (rèn) means 'to appoint', 'to entrust', or 'to undertake'. Together, they convey the idea of being entrusted with a task and held accountable for its outcome. This word emphasizes moral, social, or professional duty rather than mere capability.

‘责任’ is commonly used in formal and everyday contexts — at work (e.g., job responsibilities), in family life (e.g., parental duties), and in civic settings (e.g., environmental responsibility). It often appears after possessive pronouns (我的责任, 他的责任) or verbs like 承担 (to shoulder), 履行 (to fulfill), or 推卸 (to shirk). Unlike the more casual term 任务 (task), 责任 implies an ethical or relational commitment that cannot be easily delegated or ignored.