# 責 — blame; duty

責 means “blame; duty”. It is a JLPT N2 kanji written with 11 strokes. On'yomi: セキ (seki). Kun'yomi: せ(める) (semeru). You'll see it in words such as 責める (semeru, “to condemn; to blame”).

- Meaning: blame; duty
- On'yomi: セキ (seki)
- Kun'yomi: せ(める) (semeru)
- Strokes: 11
- Level: JLPT N2 · set Law & order 1

## How to remember 責

Parts: 王 king · 貝 shell; money

## Words with 責

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 責める | せめる (semeru) | to condemn; to blame |
| 責め | せめ (seme) | responsibility; liability |

## Don't confuse it with

[債](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/debt/) · [漬](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/pickle/)

## More in the “Law & order 1” set

[捜](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/search-for/) · [責](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/blame/) · [禁](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/forbid/) · [許](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/permit/) · [署](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/police-station/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/blame/. Last updated 2026-11-01.