responsibility · blame

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is せき, and the kun reading is せめる. It has 11 strokes and relates to responsibility and blame.
• Basic usage: 責任 is read せきにん, and 責務 is read せきむ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 責任 / 責務
  • 責任 means responsibility. It is a noun read せきにん. It broadly refers to accountability for a role, action, or outcome.
  • 担当者として最後まで責任を持つ。 means “I will take responsibility through to the end as the person in charge.”
  • 責務 means duty or responsibility. It is a noun read せきむ. It is a more formal term for a duty that must be fulfilled because of a role or position.
  • 担当者には記録を正確に残す責務がある。 means “The person in charge has a duty to keep accurate records.”