Meaning and Usage
"分担" (ぶんたん) means to divide and share tasks, responsibilities, or costs among people. It is commonly used in work, household chores, or any situation where a group needs to allocate duties fairly.
Common Contexts
You will often hear "分担" in professional settings when discussing project roles or in family contexts when talking about sharing housework. It emphasizes cooperation and fairness.
Collocations and Patterns
- 仕事を分担する: to share work tasks
- 責任を分担する: to share responsibility
- 費用を分担する: to share expenses
These phrases highlight the typical objects that are divided using "分担".
Register and Nuance
"分担" is a neutral, formal noun and verb (when combined with する). It is appropriate in both spoken and written Japanese, especially in business or formal discussions.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse "分担" with "分配" (ぶんぱい), which also means distribution but is more about dividing things like money or goods rather than responsibilities or tasks. Use "分担" when referring to sharing duties or roles.