The Meaning of sekinin [責任] In Japanese

責任
せきにん
Romaji: sekinin N3

What does 責任 mean?

Translation and Meaning

responsibility, duty, liability, accountability

Definition

What does 責任 mean? It denotes a duty or obligation to act correctly and bear the consequences of one’s actions. In practical terms it captures accountability for duties, ethical obligations, and the expectation to answer for outcomes.

Type

Noun (名詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • Primary sense: responsibility for duties and outcomes.
  • Ethical nuance: moral obligation to act rightly.
  • Legal and formal contexts: liability or accountability in law and organizations.

Etymology

Phonetic evolution and kanji composition 責任 is a Sino-Japanese compound read with the on’yomi セキ and ニン, combining 責 (to blame/charge) and 任 (to entrust/undertake).

Origin

Origin and history: The concept originated in Chinese thought and was introduced to Japan with kanbun and Buddhist/legal texts, becoming common in administrative language by the Edo period and in modern times in corporate and public life.

Composition

  • 責 — to blame, charge; here contributing the idea of accountability; on-reading セキ, kun-yomi 責める (semeru)
  • 任 — to entrust, to undertake; here the sense of entrusted duty; on-reading ニン, kun-yomi まかせる (makaseru)

Usage

Used in formal speech and writing to express obligation, accountability, and liability; collocations include 責任を負う (to bear responsibility), 責任を取る (to take responsibility), 責任を問う (to question accountability), and 責任感 (sense of responsibility).
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a shield labeled 責 with the character 任 handing you a task; you must bear both the blame and the duty, so you become responsible. The sound seki-nin echoes as ‘set in’ to a task you are entrusted with.

Variations

  • 義務, ぎむ — obligation
  • 責務, せきむ — duty
  • 職責, しょくせき — duty/responsibility (professional)
  • 任務, にんむ — task/duty
  • 無責任, むせきにん — irresponsible

Example Phrases

  • 新しい 仕事 には 責任 と ストレス が 伴う。
    atarashii shigoto ni wa sekinin to sutoresu ga tomonau.
    A new job comes with responsibilities and stress.
    Lista:
    • 新しい (atarashii) – direct translation in en
    • 仕事 (shigoto) – direct translation in en
    • には (ni wa) – direct translation in en
    • 責任 (sekinin) – direct translation in en
    • と (to) – direct translation in en
    • ストレス (sutoresu) – direct translation in en
    • が (ga) – direct translation in en
    • 伴う (tomonau) – direct translation in en
    In this sentence, 「伴う」 means ‘to accompany/come with’; the pattern 「Xには Y が伴う」 shows that Y comes with X.
  • 私は今日のミスの責任を自分で取る。
    Watashi wa kyou no misu no sekinin o jibun de toru.
    I will take responsibility for today’s mistake.
    Lista:
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 今日の (kyou no) – today’s
    • ミスの (misu no) – of the mistake
    • 責任を (sekinin o) – responsibility
    • 自分で (jibun de) – by myself
    • 取る (toru) – take
    Core grammar: 責任を取る means ‘to take responsibility’; the object is 「責任」.
責任