responsible
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responsible for
Having responsibility or duty for a task, a person, or an area, and being able to be held accountable if mistakes occur.
Als Projektleiter ist er für das gesamte Team verantwortlich.
As project manager, he is responsible for the entire team.
responsible
Being the cause of something, usually something negative.
Ein technischer Defekt war für den Unfall verantwortlich.
A technical defect was responsible for the accident.
responsible
Having the quality of acting dutifully and reliably; responsible-minded.
Wir suchen eine verantwortliche Person für die Kassenführung.
We are looking for a responsible person to manage the cash register.
The word contains 'die Antwort' (the answer). Someone who is 'verantwortlich' (responsible) must be able to give an 'Antwort' (answer) for their actions, that is, be accountable.
Der Manager muss dem Vorstand eine Antwort auf die schlechten Zahlen geben.
The manager must give the board an answer regarding the poor figures.
This adjective is almost always used with the preposition 'für' (for) and the accusative. Learn the fixed structure: 'verantwortlich für jemanden/etwas sein' (to be responsible for someone/something).
Die Eltern sind für ihre Kinder verantwortlich.
Parents are responsible for their children.
In the meaning of 'zuständig' (responsible/in charge), the word is often connected with roles or tasks. Typical combinations are 'verantwortlich für ein Projekt/ein Team/den Inhalt' (responsible for a project/a team/the content) or the expression 'sich verantwortlich fühlen' (to feel responsible).
Ich fühle mich für den Erfolg des Teams verantwortlich.
I feel responsible for the team's success.
When 'verantwortlich' (responsible) describes the cause of something negative, the subject of the sentence is often a thing or an event, not a person.
Starker Wind war für die meisten Schäden verantwortlich.
Strong winds were responsible for most of the damage.
guilt / debt
In the case of a negative event, both „schuld an“ and „verantwortlich für“ can name the cause. „Schuld“ usually implies blame, while „verantwortlich“ can also describe causation more objectively. When blame is the focus, „Schuld“ is appropriate; for a neutral statement, „verantwortlich“ is often used.
Im Bericht steht, der Fahrer sei für den Unfall verantwortlich.
The report says the driver is responsible for the accident.
Seine Freunde sagen, der Fahrer sei schuld an dem Unfall.
His friends say the driver is to blame for the accident.
