take responsibility
英 /teɪk rɪˌspɒnsəˈbɪləti/美 /teɪk rɪˌspɑːnsəˈbɪləti/
v. 短语动词
承担责任;对…负责
词义说明
“take responsibility”的核心含义是主动接受或承担对某事、某行为或某人的责任。其本义源于“take”(拿取)和“responsibility”(责任)的组合,字面意为“把责任拿过来”,即从被动转为主动,表示愿意为结果负责。引申义包括:1) 承认错误或过失,如“take responsibility for a mistake”;2) 承担管理或照料的职责,如“take responsibility for a project”;3) 在道德或法律层面承担义务,如“take responsibility for one's actions”。这些义项都强调主动性和担当,与被动接受(如“be responsible for”)形成对比。
词源解析
“take”源自古英语“tacan”,借自古诺斯语“taka”,意为“抓住、拿取”。“responsibility”源自拉丁语“respondere”(回答,回应),经由法语“responsable”进入英语。构词上,“response”(回应)+“-ible”(能…的)+“-ity”(名词后缀),本义为“有能力回应的”,引申为“应负责任的”。记忆时可将“take”视为“主动伸手去接”,而“responsibility”则是“需要对某事做出回应和交代”,因此“take responsibility”即“主动站出来回应和承担”。
使用场景
该短语广泛用于正式与非正式场合。在商务邮件中,如“I will take responsibility for the delay”,语气专业且直接,表明个人担当。学术写作中,常用来讨论伦理或法律问题,如“States must take responsibility for climate change”,带有抽象和制度性含义。新闻报道中,如“The company took responsibility for the data breach”,强调企业公开承认错误。日常口语中,如“You need to take responsibility for your own happiness”,语气是劝诫和鼓励。法律文本中,则强调法律义务,如“The defendant took responsibility for the damages”,此时常与“liability”互换。各场景的差异主要在正式程度和具体所指,但核心都是主动承担后果。
语法要点
“take responsibility”是及物性短语,后接介词“for”引出责任对象,如“take responsibility for something”或“take responsibility for doing something”。也可单独使用,如“I take full responsibility”。常见句型包括:主语+take responsibility+for+名词/动名词。注意:当主语是人时,责任通常是个人的;当主语是组织时,责任常是集体的。易错点:1) 不可说“take responsibility of”,应使用“for”;2) 区分“take responsibility”(主动承担)与“have responsibility”(拥有责任,不强调主动性);3) 在被动语态中,应说“responsibility is taken by...”,但较少使用。
近义辨析
与“take responsibility”近义的短语包括“be responsible for”、“answer for”、“account for”。“be responsible for”更强调状态,即负有责任,不强调主动承担的动作,例如“He is responsible for the project”指他负责这个项目,但未必是主动请缨。“answer for”则强调对后果做出交代,常用于犯错后,如“You will answer for your actions”,语气更严厉。“account for”侧重解释和说明,如“He must account for the missing funds”,不一定有道德责任含义。选择时,若强调主动认责,用“take responsibility”;若仅描述职责范围,用“be responsible for”;若强调后果问责,用“answer for”。
注意事项
“take responsibility”是中性的,但常带有积极色彩,因为主动担责被视为美德。语域中等偏正式,日常和正式场合皆可使用,但在学术或法律文本中需注意精确性。常见误用包括:1) 将“for”误用为“of”;2) 混淆“take responsibility”与“blame oneself”,前者是建设性的,后者可能带自责情绪;3) 在口语中过度使用“take responsibility”可能显得说教。此外,在政治或商业语境中,该短语可能被用来回避法律承认,如“take responsibility but not liability”,需注意区分道德责任与法律责任。
高频搭配
- take full responsibility
- 负全责
- take responsibility for one's actions
- 为自己的行为负责
- take responsibility for a mistake
- 为错误负责
- take responsibility for a project
- 负责一个项目
- take responsibility for a child
- 承担抚养孩子的责任
- take responsibility for the delay
- 对延误负责
- take responsibility for the outcome
- 对结果负责
句子示例
| As a manager, you must take responsibility for your team's performance. | 作为经理,你必须对团队的绩效负责。 |
| The government took responsibility for the flawed evacuation plan. | 政府为有缺陷的疏散计划承担责任。 |
| I take full responsibility for the error in the report. | 我对报告中的错误负全部责任。 |
| He refused to take responsibility for his actions. | 他拒绝为自己的行为承担责任。 |
| It's time for you to take responsibility and clean up your mess. | 是时候让你负起责任,收拾你的烂摊子了。 |
| The company took responsibility for the environmental damage caused by its factory. | 该公司为其工厂造成的环境破坏承担责任。 |