Translation and Meaning of: 受け持ち - ukemochi

If you've ever wondered how the Japanese express the idea of "responsibility" or "accountability" in their daily lives, the word 受け持ち (うけもち) is one of the keys to understanding this concept. In this article, we will delve into the etymology, usage, and curiosities of this expression, as well as explore its pictogram and how it fits into Japanese culture. If you're studying Japanese, you'll love discovering tips for memorizing this term and how to apply it in real situations — perfect for adding to your Anki or spaced repetition method.

Origin and etymology of 受け持ち

The word 受け持ち is composed of two kanji: 受 (うけ), which means "to receive," and 持 (もち), which carries the sense of "to hold" or "to maintain." Together, they form the idea of "taking on responsibility" or "being in charge of something." It is no wonder that this combination appears in professional and academic contexts, where someone needs to handle specific tasks.

Interestingly, the verb 受け持つ (うけもつ) is more common in everyday use, while the nominalized form 受け持ち appears in structures like 〇〇の受け持ち ("responsible for something"). If you’ve heard someone say クラスの受け持ち (kurasu no ukemochi), for example, they are referring to the teacher responsible for a class. This construction is so natural in Japanese that it often goes unnoticed in formal conversations.

Use and Applications in Everyday Life

In the workplace, 受け持ち is often used to designate roles or areas under someone's responsibility. Imagine a boss saying: このプロジェクトはあなたの受け持ちです ("This project is your responsibility"). Here, the word takes on an almost bureaucratic weight, but it is necessary for the typical hierarchical organization of Japanese companies.

Outside the office, the term also appears in lighter contexts. A waiter, for example, can be the 受け持ち of certain tables in a restaurant. And in schools, as mentioned before, teachers have their assigned classes. What’s interesting is that, although the literal translation refers to "collection," the actual use is more related to task management rather than pressure itself.

Tips for memorization and curiosities

An effective way to reinforce 受け持ち is to associate it with concrete situations. Think of a 教授 (きょうじゅ) who is in charge of a subject at the university — he is the 受け持ち教師. Or visualize a manager holding (持) a document that he received (受) to manage. These mental images help to solidify the meaning.

In the world of games and anime, it is common to find characters with well-defined "areas of expertise," almost like a 受け持ち fictitious role. If you are a pop culture fan, you can use this to your advantage for practice. And pay attention: do not confuse it with 担当 (たんとう), which also means "responsible," but has a slightly broader and less specific usage. Now that you know the details, how about trying to use 受け持ち the next time you talk about responsibilities?

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 担当 (tantou) - Responsible, in charge of a specific task.
• 取り扱い (toriatsukai) - Handling, treatment of something; may imply responsibility in management.
• 管理 (kanri) - Management, administration; it involves supervision and control.
• 責任者 (sekininsha) - Responsible person, someone who assumes overall responsibility.
• 担当者 (tantousha) - Individual assigned to a specific responsibility, similar to "responsible."

受け持ち

Romaji: ukemochi
Kana: うけもち
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: collection (of something); subject under someone's responsibility

Meaning in English: charge (of something);matter in one's charge

Definition: To deal with something responsibly.

Example Sentences - (受け持ち) ukemochi

See below some example sentences:

私はこのプロジェクトを受け持ちます。

Watashi wa kono purojekuto wo ukemochi masu

I will be responsible for this project.

I take this project.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• この (kono) - demonstrative adjective meaning "this"
• プロジェクト (purojekuto) - katakana word meaning "project"
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• 受け持ちます (ukemochimasu) - verb meaning "to take responsibility for"

私はこのプロジェクトの受け持ちをしています。

Watashi wa kono purojekuto no ukemochi o shiteimasu

I am responsible for this project.

I am in charge of this project.

• 私 (watashi) - personal pronoun that means "I"
• は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case "I"
• この (kono) - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• プロジェクト (purojekuto) - noun meaning "project"
• の (no) - particle that indicates possession, in this case "of the project"
• 受け持ち (ukemochi) - noun meaning "responsibility"
• を (wo) - particle indicating the direct object of the sentence, in this case "responsibility"
• しています (shiteimasu) - verb meaning "I'm taking over"