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负担 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
负担
fùdān
burden
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, rank #3910, Hard
负担
fùdān
to bear a burden
HSK 5, v, 14 strokes, rank #3910, Hard
fùdān(fu4dan1)fu dan T4
1burden
2to bear a burden
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March 24, 2026
负担(負擔)fùdān(fu4dan1)
负担 (fù dān) refers to a burden or load, both in a physical and metaphorical sense. It is commonly used to describe responsibilities, emotional weight, or financial obligations that one must carry or manage in daily life.
Strokes14Frequency#3910DifficultyHard
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of 负担 is often associated with familial obligations, where individuals may feel pressured to support their families financially and emotionally. This reflects broader values around filial piety and social responsibility.
Memory tip
Imagine a heavy '负' (fù) sign on your back, symbolizing a great '担' (dān) of responsibilities. The character '负' looks like a person bending under the weight, while '担' suggests a burden being carried. Together, they create a vivid image of struggling under life's loads.
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AI study notes for 负担
Quick Contrast
责任 (zérèn) — use 负担 (fùdān) when emphasizing the weight or burden of the responsibility, while 责任 (zérèn) focuses more on the obligation aspect.
Usage Notes
Usage of 负担 can often be metaphorical, referring to emotional or psychological burdens rather than just physical ones. Be careful with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning significantly. Common collocations include '经济负担' (economic burden) and '心理负担' (psychological burden).
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 6 word, 负担 connects with other concepts related to responsibility and obligation. Students should focus on understanding its usage in various contexts, particularly in discussions about stress, responsibilities, and social issues.
Common Mistakes
A common mistake is confusing 负担 with 责任 (zérèn), which means 'responsibility.' For example, saying '我有很多责任' (I have many burdens) instead of '我有很多负担' can lead to misunderstandings, as they convey different nuances.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 负担
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负担 (fù dān) refers to a burden or load, both in a physical and metaphorical sense. It is commonly used to describe responsibilities, emotional weight, or financial obligations that one must carry or manage in daily life.
When to use 负担
Usage of 负担 can often be metaphorical, referring to emotional or psychological burdens rather than just physical ones. Be careful with tone; using the wrong tone can change the meaning significantly. Common collocations include '经济负担' (economic burden) and '心理负担' (psychological burden).
负担 or something close to it
责任 (zérèn) — use 负担 (fùdān) when emphasizing the weight or burden of the responsibility, while 责任 (zérèn) focuses more on the obligation aspect.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is confusing 负担 with 责任 (zérèn), which means 'responsibility.' For example, saying '我有很多责任' (I have many burdens) instead of '我有很多负担' can lead to misunderstandings, as they convey different nuances.
Write 负担
负
担
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Grammar patterns of 负担
负担 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Fill the gap
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
我不觉得这是____；我觉得它是一种责任。
I wouldn't call it a burden; I call it a responsibility.
It's no use trying to keep up the flat; I can't do it.
5
建议购买能负担得起的最贵的镜头。
jiànyì gòumǎi néng fùdān de qǐ de zuì guì de jìngtóu。
A good tip is to buy the most expensive lens you can afford.
6
吃得太饱会加重消化系统的负担。
chī de tài bǎo huì jiāzhòng xiāohuà xìtǒng de fùdān。
Large meals overload the digestive system.
7
他脱下了鞋。如果他们不得不游泳的话，他不想让任何东西成为负担。
tā tuō xià le xié。 rúguǒ tāmen bùdébù yóuyǒng dehuà， tā bù xiǎng ràng rènhé dōngxi chéngwéi fùdān。
He took off his shoes. If they had to swim, he didn't want anything weighing him down.
8
唉, 我把你的负担减少到最低限度.
ài, wǒ bǎ nǐ de fùdān jiǎnshǎo dào zuì dī xiàndù.
Well, I've kept your obligations down to a minimum.
9
为了减轻家庭的经济负担，他决定去国外工作。
Wèile jiǎnqīng jiātíng de jīngjì fùdān, tā juédìng qù guówài gōngzuò.
To ease the financial burden on his family, he decided to work abroad.
10
她觉得照顾年迈的父母是一种责任，而不是负担。
Tā juéde zhàogù niánmài de fùmǔ shì yī zhǒng zérèn, ér bù shì fùdān.
She feels that caring for her elderly parents is a responsibility, not a burden.
11
不断上升的房租给年轻人带来了沉重的负担。
Bùduàn shàngshēng de fángzū gěi niánqīng rén dàilái le chénzhòng de fùdān.
The rising rent has become a heavy burden for young people.
12
为了减轻心理负担，她开始尝试冥想和瑜伽。
Wèile jiǎnqīng xīnlǐ fùdān, tā kāishǐ chángshì míngxiǎng hé yújiā.
To alleviate her mental burden, she started trying meditation and yoga.
13
他努力工作是为了减轻家庭的经济负担。
Tā nǔlì gōngzuò shì wèile jiǎnqīng jiātíng de jīngjì fùdān.
He works hard to reduce his family's financial burden.
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Cultural Notes for 负担
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, the concept of a 'burden' may emphasize individualism and personal choice, while in Chinese culture, it often involves collective family responsibilities and societal expectations.
Frequently asked questions about 负担
Typically, 负担 has a negative connotation, suggesting undue stress or pressure. However, it can be used positively when discussing manageable responsibilities.
Focus on the context; 负担 usually refers to a load or burden that is difficult to bear, while words like 责任 (zérèn) refer more specifically to responsibility.
负担 is commonly used in both spoken and written contexts, especially in discussions about obligations and stress.
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