The word 责任 is formed through a profound conceptual fusion of two ancient characters: 责, which originally depicted a debt or what one is obliged to repay, thus conveying a sense of duty, blame, or expectation; and 任, which represents the idea of bearing a burden, undertaking a task, or holding an office. Together, they weave the notion of an internal or external obligation (责) with the act of carrying and accepting that load (任), creating the modern composite concept of "responsibility", the state of being accountable for something one is expected to uphold or complete.