负担 meaning in English
to bear (an expense, a responsibility etc); burden
Meaning of 负担
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to bear (an expense, a responsibility etc)
- burden
How to use 负担
负担 works as a verb meaning to bear a cost or responsibility, and as a noun meaning a burden, often a financial or mental one. Common phrases include 经济负担 (jīngjì fùdān, financial burden) and 减轻负担 (jiǎnqīng fùdān, to lighten the burden). Example: 房租对我来说是很大的负担。(Fángzū duì wǒ lái shuō shì hěn dà de fùdān.) Rent is a big burden for me.
Think of 负 (fù) as carrying something on your back, as in 负责 (fùzé) to be responsible, and 担 (dān) as shouldering a load, as in 承担 (chéngdān) to undertake. Put together, 负担 is a load you carry on your back and shoulders, so it means to bear or a burden.
Common mistake: Learners often read 担 here as dàn, but in 负担 it is first tone dān, the same as in 担心 (dānxīn). Also do not confuse 负 (fù) with 页 (yè, page), which looks similar on top.
负担 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
负 fù · to bear · 6 strokes
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担 dān · to undertake · 8 strokes
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Related words
Words that share a character with 负担.
| 负责 | fùzé | to be responsible for; to be in charge of; to bear responsibility for; conscientious |
| 担心 | dānxīn | anxious; worried |
| 承担 | chéngdān | to undertake; to assume (responsibility etc) |
| 担任 | dānrèn | to hold a governmental office or post; to assume office of |
| 担保 | dānbǎo | to guarantee; to vouch for |
| 负责人 | fùzérén | person in charge |
| 胜负 | shèngfù | victory or defeat; the outcome of a battle |
| 欺负 | qīfu | to bully |
| 担忧 | dānyōu | to worry; to be concerned |
| 辜负 | gūfù | to fail to live up to (sb's expectations, trust or kindness); to let down |
| 自负 | zìfù | conceited; to take responsibility |
| 负面 | fùmiàn | negative; the negative side |
Questions about 负担
What does 负担 mean?
负担 (fùdān) means "to bear (an expense, a responsibility etc); burden" and is used as a verb and noun.
How do you write 负担?
负担 is made of 2 characters: 负 (6 strokes), 担 (8 strokes). That is 14 strokes in total.
Is 负担 an HSK word?
Yes. 负担 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 负担 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 负担 is written 負擔.
What is the difference between 负担 and 承担?
承担 (chéngdān) is only a verb and stresses willingly taking on a duty or consequence, as in 承担责任 (to take responsibility). 负担 can also be a noun, and as a noun it usually sounds negative, like something heavy you would rather not carry.
How do you say someone cannot afford something using 负担?
Use 负担不起 (fùdān bù qǐ), meaning cannot afford or cannot bear the cost. For example, 这么贵的学费我负担不起 means I cannot afford such expensive tuition.