Taxonomy of meanings for 責:　　

  • 責 zé (OC: skreeɡ MC: tʂɯæk) 側革切 入 廣韻：【求也側革切十一 】
    • ACCUSE
      • vtoNhold responsible; take to task; take (someone) to task
      • vtt(oN1.)+N2omaccuse a contextually determinate person N1 of (a transgression N2)
      • vtt(oN.)+V[0]accuse the contextually determinate N of V-ing
    • ASK
      • vtoNdemand to know about (possibly incriminatory facts)
    • BLAME
      • vadNdisparaging
      • vt(oN)make complaints against a contextually determinate person
      • vtoNdeclare responsible for misdeeds (without proposing legal action); blame, reproach
      • vtoNpassivebe blamed
      • vtoNpsychblame (oneself)
      • nabpassivebeing blamed> blame, moral disapproval; negative commentsCH
      • vt+prep+Npreposed objectblameCH
    • DEMAND
      • vt+prep+Nmake demands on 責於
      • vtoNmake demands concerning (performance of duty)
      • vtoNpassivebe held responsible for, be exposed to demands
      • vttoN.+V[0]pivotdemand of someone to V
      • vttoN1.+prep+N2demand N1 from N2 責賂於鄭
      • vtoNN=hummake demands (on a person)
      • vttoN1(. prep N2)figurativeabstract: demand N1 from the contextually determinate N2CH
      • vtoNfigurativeinsist on finding out about; demand to fully understandCH
      • viderivedbe excessively demandingCH
    • RECTITUDE
      • nab.post-V{NUM}obligations
      • nabsocialobligation, responsibility
    • RESPONSIBILITY
      • nabsocialresponsibility (for glory or disgrace)
      • vtoNputativehold responsible for (one's proposals); hold (someone) responsible for the execution of his duties

    Additional information about 責

    說文解字:

      Criteria
    • ACCUSE

      [ASCENDING/DESCENDING]

      [BENEVOLENT/MALEVOLENT]

      [FALSE/TRUE]

      [INFORMAL/OFFICIAL]

      [INTENSE/WEAK]

      [PUBLIC/PRIVATE]

      1. The most current general word for accusing someone of something with either good or evil intent is zé 責.

      [GENERAL], [NEUTRAL]

      2. Sù 訴 refers to an informal accusation from the party that maintains it has suffered injustice, and this word became current in Han times.

      [INFORMAL], [MALEVOLENT]

      3. Zuì 罪 typically refers to a superior or king raising criminal charges against someone under his jurisdiction, but occasionally the word is used in an extended way to refer to strong criticism offered by anyone with authority.

      [DESCENDING], [NEUTRAL], [OFFICIAL]

      4. Hé 劾 refers to formal impeachment and the starting of formal criminal proceedings against a culprit, and the accuser in this case tends to be a person of some social standing, normally of high bureaucratic status; in Han times hé 劾 refers to the passing judgment after such a formal procedure.

      [DESCENDING], [INTENSE], [NEUTRAL], [OFFICIAL]

      5. Qiǎn 譴 refers to formal more or less serious accusations against officials raised by anyone, including ordinary persons.

      [ASCENDING], [INTENSE], [OFFICIAL]

      6. Wū 誣 is occasionally used for making false formal accusations against some person, and the word may even refer to false self-incrimination.

      [FALSE], [INFORMAL], [MALEVOLENT]

      7. Zèn 譖 refers generally to slanderous attacks, and sometimes - imperceptibly - the word can refer to something more like slanderous accusations. But the distinctions always seems to remain unclear. See SLANDER.

      [FALSE], [INFORMAL], [MALEVOLENT]

      8. Kòng 控 occasionally refers to a formal complaint directed against the authorities.

      [ASCENDING], [OFFICIAL]

      9. Ga4o 告 commonly refers to the making of public complaints and accusations.

    • BLAME

      [ARCHAIC/CURRENT]

      [DRAMATIC/UNDRAMATIC]

      [ELEVATED/FAMILIAR]

      [FACE-TO-FACE/NOT-FACE-TO-FACE]

      [GENERAL/SPECIFIC]

      [HIGH-DEGREE/LOW-DEGREE]

      [PRIVATE/PUBLIC]

      1. The current general word for declaring someone morally rather than criminally responsible for a misdeed is jiù 咎 (ant. yù 譽 "praise").

      [ARCHAIC?], [NOT-FACE-TO-FACE!], [PRIVATE]

      2. Shǔ 數 refers to the recounting and publicly recounting and listing up of the misdeeds or mistakes someone has made.

      [FACE-TO-FACE], [HIGH-DEGREE]

      3. Zé 責 (ant. chēng 稱 "praise someone for something") often refers to the public apportioning of blame without the threat of legal action. [see ACCUSE]

      [FORMAL], [FACE-TO-FACE]

      4. Ràng 讓 (ant. zàn 贊 "commend strongly, in public") refers to strong public blame and abuse.

      [DRAMATIC], [FACE-TO-FACE], [PUBLIC],

      5. Qiào 誚 refers to a strong and often abusive public reprimand.

      [DRAMATIC], [FACE-TO-FACE], [FAMILIAR]; [[RARE]]

      5. Yóu 尤 often refers to official blame and censure, but there are archaic generalised uses of the word where it simply means "to apportion blame for something".

      [ARCHAIC+], [ELEVATED], [NOT-FACE-TO-FACE]

      6. Jí 疾 (ant. měi 美 "praise the splendid qualities of someone") refers to strong personal stricture.

      [DRAMATIC], [FACE-TO-FACE], [INFORMAL]

      7. Guò 過 (ant. yù 譽 ) typically refers to a mild and/or subjective moral disagreement with someone. See MISTAKE

      [LOW-DEGREE], [MARGINAL]

    • DEMAND

      1. The current word for putting forward justified legal demands on someone is zé 責, and the word refers to any demand for the fulfillment of a duty.

      2. Zhēng 徵 refers to a state insisting on its legal rights and thus making demands on the people.

      3. Zhū 誅 refers to a fierce legal demand for something that is construed as one's right.

      4. Qiú 求 is often used to refer not to seeking something, but insistently demanding it. See also SEEK.

    • RECTITUDE

      1. The most general word is yì 義 "rectitude" which is often used to refer to what is proper and what is one's proper duty in general and also duties in particular.

      2. Rèn 任 refers to duties insofar as these impose burdens of responsibility.

      3. Zé 責 refers to duties insofar as these represent demands that others do make or can make on one.

      4. Zhí 職 refers specifically to official public duties that are part of one's public office.

      Word relations
    • Ant: (BLAME)嘉/PRAISE Jiā 嘉 (ant. sǔn 損 "make belittling remarks about") refers to commending someone for a certain action or for past behaviour.
    • Contrast: (BLAME)咎/BLAME The current general word for declaring someone morally rather than criminally responsible for a misdeed is jiù 咎 (ant. yù 譽 "praise").