1.
to carry on one's shoulders
To physically carry something on one's shoulders or back. The original, literal meaning.
天秤棒を担う。
To carry a shoulder pole.
重い荷物を両肩に担って山道を登った。
Shouldering heavy loads, they climbed the mountain path.
水を担って運ぶのは大変な仕事だった。
Carrying water on one's shoulders was hard work.
2.
to bear, to shoulder, to take on (a role or responsibility)
To accept and carry out an important role, responsibility, or duty. The more common figurative usage.
未来を担う若者たち。
Young people who will shoulder the future.
彼はプロジェクトの中心的な役割を担っている。
He bears a central role in the project.
地方の医療を担う医師が足りない。
There are not enough doctors to shoulder regional healthcare.
担う originally meant to carry something on the shoulders, but is now primarily used figuratively for bearing responsibilities, roles, or duties.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
PATTERN:
- 〜を担う: to bear ~, to shoulder ~
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 役割を担う: to take on a role
- 未来を担う: to shoulder the future
- 責任を担う: to bear responsibility
- 重要な任務を担う: to take on an important mission
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 背負う: to carry on one's back; to bear (more personal, emotional weight)
- 引き受ける: to undertake, to take on (more about accepting a task)