# Có trách nhiệm / chịu trách nhiệm in Vietnamese (B2)

> Two phrases with trách nhiệm (responsibility) look alike but do different jobs. Có trách nhiệm + a verb names a duty, something a person or body must do…

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/co-trach-nhiem/ · Updated 2026-10-17

**have the duty to / answer for**

Pattern: `[body] + có trách nhiệm + [verb] · [person or body] + chịu trách nhiệm + về + [matter] · chịu trách nhiệm + trước + [authority]`

Level: B2 (our estimate) · Register: formal

Typed without accents: co trach nhiem, chiu trach nhiem

Two phrases with *trách nhiệm* (responsibility) look alike but do different jobs.

*Có trách nhiệm* + a verb names a duty, something a person or body must do: *Chủ đầu tư có trách nhiệm bồi thường cho các hộ dân* (the developer is responsible for compensating the households). This is how decrees, contracts and school rules list obligations, one party at a time: *Sở Tài chính có trách nhiệm hướng dẫn …*, *Bên thuê có trách nhiệm …*. On its own, it describes character: *một người rất có trách nhiệm* (a very responsible person).

*Chịu trách nhiệm* means "answer for, be accountable". What you answer for comes after *về*: *chịu trách nhiệm về chất lượng sản phẩm* (accountable for product quality). Whom you answer to comes after *trước*: *chịu trách nhiệm trước pháp luật* (accountable before the law). News uses it when someone is held to account: *Ai sẽ chịu trách nhiệm?* A verb can follow too, meaning "be in charge of": every decision ends by naming who *chịu trách nhiệm thi hành* (is responsible for carrying out) it.

English speakers tend to copy "responsible for" as *có trách nhiệm cho* + a noun. For a matter you answer for, use *chịu trách nhiệm về*. *Có trách nhiệm* takes a verb, or *với* for the people or things you're responsible towards: *có trách nhiệm với gia đình* (responsible towards one's family).

In everyday speech, *phải* (must) states a duty, and *lo* or *phụ trách* says who's in charge: *Chị Lan lo vụ này* (Lan is handling this).

## A common mistake

✗ Ai có trách nhiệm cho vụ tai nạn này?

✓ Ai chịu trách nhiệm về vụ tai nạn này?

Answering for a matter is *chịu trách nhiệm về*. *Có trách nhiệm* is followed by a verb (the duty) or by *với* (towards whom), never by *cho*.

## Examples

- Chủ đầu tư có trách nhiệm bồi thường thiệt hại cho các hộ dân bị ảnh hưởng. — The developer is responsible for compensating the affected households.
- Phụ huynh có trách nhiệm đưa đón học sinh đúng giờ. — Parents are responsible for dropping off and picking up pupils on time.
- Giám đốc công ty phải chịu trách nhiệm trước pháp luật về chất lượng sản phẩm. — The company director is accountable before the law for the quality of the products.
- Đến nay, chưa có đơn vị nào đứng ra chịu trách nhiệm về sự cố. — So far, no organisation has come forward to take responsibility for the incident.

## Compare

- [Must, have to: phải + verb](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/phai-must/): must

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