Meaning and Usage
The word 负担 (fù dān) primarily means to bear or carry a burden, such as expenses, responsibilities, or pressures. It can be used as a noun to refer to the burden itself or as a verb meaning to bear or take on that burden.
Common Contexts
负担 is often used in contexts involving financial costs (like tuition or travel expenses), emotional or psychological pressure, and responsibilities at work or in family life. It frequently appears in discussions about difficulties or challenges that someone must endure.
Collocations and Patterns
- 负担费用 (bear expenses): used when talking about who pays for costs.
- 负担压力 (bear pressure): refers to carrying emotional or work-related stress.
- 负担重 (heavy burden): describes a significant or difficult burden.
Usage Notes
When using 负担, the speaker often implies that the burden is significant or challenging. It is common in formal or semi-formal contexts, such as news reports, workplace conversations, or discussions about social issues. Avoid confusing 负担 with simpler verbs like 承担 (chéng dān), which also means to undertake but often emphasizes acceptance or assumption of responsibility rather than the weight or difficulty of the burden.
Character Insight
负 means "load" or "burden," and 担 means "to bear" or "to carry." Together, they emphasize the act of carrying a load, whether physical, financial, or emotional.