負担

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 負担 (ふたん) combines bearing 負 and carrying 担 to denote a burden or assigned responsibility.
• Basic usage: It covers reducing one person's physical load and bearing a share of repair costs.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Reducing a burden and assuming a cost
  • 負担を減らす lessens what must be carried, while 費用を負担する means taking responsibility for payment.