Definition
责 (zé) is a bound form (b.f.) — it cannot stand alone but appears as a morpheme in many Chinese words. Its core meanings center on 'duty/obligation' (责任 zérèn 'responsibility'), 'blame/reproach' (责备 zébèi 'to blame'), and 'demand/interrogate' (质问 zhìwèn 'to interrogate', 要求 yāoqiú 'to demand'). It also contributes to words like 惩罚 (chéngfá 'to punish'). When you see 责 in a compound, the surrounding characters reveal which sense is active.
b.f.
dutyresponsibility (bound form, as in 责任)to blameto reproach (bound form, as in 责备)to demandto interrogate (bound form, as in 要求, 质问)
Examples
- 。Měi gè rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de zérèn.Everyone has their own responsibilities.
- 。Tā yīnwèi chídào bèi lǎoshī zébèi le.He was blamed by the teacher for being late.
- 。Fǎlǜ huì duì fànzuì xíngwéi jìnxíng zéfá.The law will impose punishment on criminal acts.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.