Explore 担 in words about carrying a load and taking responsibility. Learn each reading with its word and context.

The idea

担 has 8 strokes; follow the linked stroke-order diagram. 担ぐ is かつぐ, 担う is になう, and 担当 and 負担 use たん. Learn the compounds as whole words.

Patterns to compare
Japanese wordReadingExample in context
担ぐかつぐI will carry the bag on my shoulder.
担当たんとうMs Tanaka is in charge of this project.
負担ふたんThe travel costs are a heavy burden.
担うになうThis company plays an important role in the region.

Examples

  • 鞄かばんを肩かたに担かつぎます。I will carry the bag on my shoulder.
  • 田中たなかさんがこの企画きかくを担当たんとうしています。Ms Tanaka is in charge of this project.
  • 旅行りょこうの費用ひようは大おおきな負担ふたんです。The travel costs are a heavy burden.
  • この会社かいしゃは地域ちいきで重要じゅうような役割やくわりを担になっています。This company plays an important role in the region.
  • 私わたしたちは費用ひようを等ひとしく負担ふたんします。We share the costs equally.
  • この授業じゅぎょうは誰だれが担当たんとうしますか。Who is responsible for this class?

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

Watch out

担当 means a responsibility or person in charge; 負担 is a burden or share of costs. 担う often describes fulfilling a role, not literally carrying something.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 担ぐ in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    かつぐ

    担ぐ is かつぐ: it can describe carrying a bag on one’s shoulder.

  2. Write the reading of 担当 in hiragana.

    Show answer or example answer

    たんとう

    担当 is たんとう: it refers to being in charge of a task or area.

  3. Choose the missing kanji: 負＿（ふたん）［担／持］.

    Show answer or example answer

    担

    担 completes 負担（ふたん）, a burden or a share of costs.

Use it today

Write 担 using the stroke-order diagram. Cover the table, read 担ぐ and 担当, then make a sentence about a responsibility.