To Take Responsibility
To Assume Responsibility, To Take On A Burden
transitive verb, godan verb
担ぐ is more like when you're carrying something physical. 担う is when you carry a responsibility, which is why this word means to assume responsibility. You can remember this because YOU (う) are responsible for this. You assume this responsibility.
Note that 担う is generally used with another word that specifies the responsibility, like 役割を担う (assume a role) or 未来を担う (bear the future).
What is your responsibility? To raise this girl named Nina (にな).
役割を担う
to assume a role
未来を担う
to bear the future
業務を担う
to take on tasks
地域を担う
to support the local community
日本の未来を担うのは若者たちです。
It's young people that are responsible for Japan's future.
トーフグは、これからの社会を担う人材の育成を目指しています。
Tofugu aims to foster the development of individuals who will shape the future of society.
我が社の純利益は前年比で70％も上昇したが、それを達成するために私が重要な役割を担ったんだ。
My company’s profits soared 70% over last year and I played an important part in achieving that.
会社のビジョンを明確にするのを担うのが社長だろ？でもうちの社長が担ってるのは、暑い夏にダジャレでみんなを寒くするエアコンディションの役目なんだ。
The president is supposed to be responsible for articulating the company's vision, right? However, in our case, our president is playing the role of an air conditioner that chills everyone with puns during a hot summer.