responsible
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responsible for
To have official responsibility or authority for a specific task, area, or person.
Frau Meier ist in unserer Firma für die Personalangelegenheiten zuständig.
Ms. Meier is responsible for personnel matters in our company.
The adjective 'zuständig' (responsible) is almost always used with the preposition 'für' (for) and the accusative. This structure is fixed and expresses what someone is responsible for.
Welcher Kollege ist für die Organisation der Weihnachtsfeier zuständig?
Which colleague is responsible for organizing the Christmas party?
'Zuständig' (responsible) is mainly used in a professional or administrative context. It describes an official, assigned task or responsibility.
Bitte wenden Sie sich an die zuständige Abteilung im Rathaus.
Please contact the responsible department at city hall.
The expression 'sich zuständig fühlen' (to feel responsible) describes a personal feeling of responsibility, as opposed to an official duty. The verb 'fühlen' (to feel) and the reflexive pronoun 'sich' indicate this meaning.
Niemand war offiziell zuständig, aber er fühlte sich zuständig und kümmerte sich um das Problem.
No one was officially responsible, but he felt responsible and took care of the problem.
responsible
'verantwortlich' and 'zuständig' can both mean that someone has to take care of a task or an area. 'zuständig' emphasizes the official task or the right point of contact: this person or office is allowed and expected to deal with it. 'verantwortlich' emphasizes the duty more strongly, and also the consequences if something goes wrong. That is why people often ask, 'Wer ist dafür zuständig?' when they want to know whom they should contact. 'Wer ist verantwortlich?' sounds more strongly connected with duty, or even blame. Learners confuse the words because they often go together, but the focus is different.
Für neue Ausweise ist im Rathaus ein anderes Büro zuständig.
A different office at city hall is responsible for new ID cards.
Frau Becker ist für die Sicherheit im Labor verantwortlich.
Ms. Becker is responsible for safety in the laboratory.