noun
each person pays their own share; individual responsibility for costs
Used in contexts such as group meals, shared expenses, or event costs where each participant covers their own portion rather than splitting equally or having one person pay. The legal term 'joint and several liability' is a technical equivalent, but in everyday Japanese it simply means 'pay for yourself'.
飲み会の費用は各自負担でお願いします。
Please pay for your own share of the drinking party expenses.
交通費は各自負担となります。
Transportation costs will be borne by each individual.
割り勘 means splitting the total bill equally among participants, while 各自負担 means each person pays only for what they themselves consumed or used.
Compound of 各自 (each individual) and 負担 (burden, bearing of costs).