承担 (chéng dān) is a compound verb meaning 'to undertake' or 'to assume (responsibility, obligation, or burden).' The first character 承 (chéng) means 'to receive,' 'to accept,' or 'to inherit,' while the second character 担 (dān) means 'to carry on one's shoulders' — together, they convey the idea of willingly accepting and bearing a responsibility, often something serious or weighty. It emphasizes commitment and accountability, not just passive involvement.

This word is commonly used in formal, written, or professional contexts — such as legal documents, workplace discussions, academic writing, or public speeches — rather than casual conversation. It frequently appears with nouns like 责任 (zérèn, 'responsibility'), 义务 (yìwù, 'duty'), 风险 (fēngxiǎn, 'risk'), or 后果 (hòuguǒ, 'consequences'). While it can be used reflexively (e.g., 自己承担), it is rarely used with objects that are purely physical or trivial; its semantic core is moral or institutional duty.