責め|せめseme[2]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounresponsibility; liability; blame
2. nountorture; torment
   彼かれは生徒せいとの質問しつもん責せめに困こまっているところだ。↗

   He is being harassed by a flood of questions from his students.

• Synonym責任せきにんNeutralThe most general word for responsibility, as in 「責任を取る」; 「責め」 is more written in tone, usually seen in 「責めを負う」, and can also mean blame.
• Synonym責務せきむWrittenWritten-style word for a duty or obligation, as in 「責務を果たす」; it stresses what one is bound to fulfill rather than blame.
• Synonym問責もんせきWrittenWritten-style word for holding someone accountable for a mistake, as in 「問責決議」; leans toward political contexts.
• Related義務ぎむNeutralNeutral word for an obligation, the counterpart of rights; unlike 「責め」, it carries no sense of blame.
• Related非難ひなんNeutralBlame or condemnation expressed in words, as in 「非難を浴びる」; it centers on the act of censuring rather than on responsibility.
• Related糾弾きゅうだんWrittenWritten-style word for denouncing wrongdoing and pursuing guilt, as in 「不正を糾弾」; far stronger in tone than 「責め」.
• Related指弾しだんWrittenWritten-style word for criticizing and shutting someone out; the critic can be an individual or the public, as in 「世間の指弾を受ける」.
• Related難詰なんきつWrittenWritten-style word for harshly questioning and reproaching someone over their faults; rarely used.
• Related咎めとがめNeutralBlame or censure for a fault or misdeed, as in 「お咎めなし」; it carries the nuance of pursuing someone's fault.
• Antonym賞賛しょうさんNeutralPraise or admiration; the opposite of 「責め」 in its censure sense.
• Antonym褒めNeutralPraise; the opposite of 「責め」 in its blame sense, though it is used less often.

For responsibility, say 「責任」; in formal prose, taking responsibility is 「責めを負う」. For criticizing someone, use 「非難」; to pursue a fault or accountability, 「咎め」 or 「問責」. For praise, use 「賞賛」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 相手あいてを責せめること。
2. 自分じぶんが負おうべき責任せきにん。