duty, responsibility, blame

責 is composed of a variant of 朿 (stab) and 貝 (shell). 朿 means a sharp thorn and carries the sense of urging or pressing, while 貝 represents wealth or money. Therefore, 責 conveys the idea of collecting taxes or demanding repayment of debts. Its original meaning is money owed to others, but this sense was later taken over by the character 債. Nowadays, 責 broadly refers to all matters within one’s duty or responsibility, and also carries the meaning of blaming or reproaching.