担
shouldering, carry, raise, bear
Readings
On'yomi
- タン
Kun'yomi
- かつ.ぐ
- にな.う
Meaning
担 centers on lifting and supporting a load: shouldering a burden, carrying something, or bearing responsibility. The sense of raising follows naturally from lifting something up to carry it.
Most common words using 担
20 of 133- 担当たんとうN3
being in charge (of an area of responsibility); being responsible (for a work role, etc.)
- 負担ふたんN2
burden; load; responsibility
- 担うになうN2
to carry on one's shoulder; to shoulder; to bear
- 担任たんにんN2
being in charge of (esp. a class or subject); taking charge of
- 担保たんぽN1
security; guarantee; collateral; mortgage
- 分担ぶんたんN1
taking on one's share (e.g. of work); dividing (work, expenses, etc.) between; apportionment; allotment; allocation; assignment
- 加担かたん
support; participation; assistance; complicity; conspiracy
- 担ぎかつぎ
carrier
- 担い手にないて
bearer; carrier
- 担架たんかN1
stretcher; litter; gurney
- 担ぐかつぐN2
to shoulder; to carry on one's shoulder
- 担当者たんとうしゃN3
person in charge (of an area of work, etc.); person responsible; contact (person)
- 担ぎ出すかつぎだす
to carry something out of a place
- お先棒を担ぐおさきぼうをかつぐ
to be a willing cats-paw; to willingly act as someone's tool
- ふんどし担ぎふんどしかつぎ
rikishi of the lowest rank
- ゲンを担ぐげんをかつぐ
to be superstitious
- ゲン担ぎげんかつぎ
being superstitious; acting superstitiously (for good luck)
- コミット調整担当コミットちょうせいたんとう
commit coordinator
- 一端を担ういったんをになう
to be partly responsible for; to have a part in; to play a role in
- 一翼を担ういちよくをになう
to play a part; to get involved; to take a share; to share the burden
Study
Etymology
担 is the modern simplified form of 擔. The older form combines 扌 (hand) with 詹, which likely contributed the sound and the idea of bearing a load. The modern 旦 shape is a simplification and should not be treated as the original historical component.
Meaning mnemonic
The left side is a hand 扌, and the right side 旦 looks like a shoulder pole with a load. Picture a hand lifting a carrying pole onto the shoulder to bear a burden.
Reading mnemonic
For タン, imagine a tan-colored shoulder pole resting on your shoulder as you carry a heavy load: tan -> タン.