Explore 責 in words about blaming someone and taking responsibility. Learn each reading with the whole word.

The idea

責 has 11 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 責める（せめる） means to blame; 責任（せきにん） means responsibility, and 責任者（せきにんしゃ） is the person in charge.

Patterns to compare
WordReadingExample in context
責めるせめるPlease do not blame yourself.
責任せきにんI take responsibility for this work.
責任者せきにんしゃWho is in charge?

Examples

  • 自分じぶんを責せめないでください。Please do not blame yourself.
  • 彼女かのじょは間違まちがいについて彼かれを責せめました。She blamed him for the mistake.
  • この仕事しごとの責任せきにんを私わたしが負おいます。I take responsibility for this work.
  • 責任者せきにんしゃはだれですか。Who is in charge?
  • 責任者せきにんしゃが計画けいかくを説明せつめいしました。The person in charge explained the plan.
  • 私わたしたちは責任せきにんの範囲はんいを話はなし合あいました。We discussed the scope of responsibility.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

責める is a verb, whereas 責任 is a noun. Having responsibility does not necessarily mean being blamed for a mistake.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 責める in hiragana.

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    せめる

    責める is read せめる; める is part of the verb. 自分を責める means to blame oneself.

  2. Write the reading of 責任 in hiragana.

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    せきにん

    責任 is read せきにん. 責任を負う means to bear responsibility.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: ＿任者（せきにんしゃ）［責／積］.

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    責

    責 completes 責任者（せきにんしゃ）, the person in charge. 積 is a different character.

Use it today

Write 責 using the diagram. Cover the table, read 責める and 責任, then make a sentence with one of them.