<ol>
<li><p>"这个重大责任， [<strong>是</strong>]民族的责任。" - "This major responsibility, [<strong>is</strong>] the people's responsibility "</p></li>
<li><p>"这个重大责任， [<strong>就是</strong>]民族的责任。" - "This major responsibility, [<strong>exactly is</strong>]
the people's responsibility "</p></li>
<li><p>"这个重大责任， [<strong>就是</strong>][<strong>对</strong>] 民族的责任。" - "This major responsibility, [<strong>exactly is</strong>] the responsibility [<strong>to</strong>] the people"</p></li>
</ol>

<p>In all cases, '<strong>这个重大责任</strong>' is the <strong>topic</strong> of a [topic + comment/opinion] sentence </p>

<p>The comment/ opinion:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>1b. '是民族的责任'" (is people's responsibility) is the comment on the <strong>topic</strong>  </p></li>
<li><p>2b. '是' = 'is' ; '就是' = 'exactly is' ; '就' has many meanings. However, in this sentence, it means 'exactly', which emphasize the verb '是', not only "it is", it  "exactly is"</p></li>
<li><p>3b. '对'(toward) = 'to' ; it is a preposition that indicates which object this responsibility is for</p></li>
</ul>

<p>民族的责任 = the people's responsibility </p>

<p>[<strong>对</strong>]民族[<strong>的</strong>]责任 = responsibility [<strong>toward</strong>/ <strong>to</strong>] the people</p>

<p><em>Rephrase in English grammar: "This major responsibility, is the responsibility to the people"</em></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-10T19:36:24.660Z
2020-01-01T15:00:55.720Z
2020-01-01T15:00:55.720Z
Tang Ho
<p>就是 is more like "<em>that is</em>" in English. It's an emphasis on the explanation of the afforementioned "责任". </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-11T09:26:03.810Z
2019-01-11T09:26:03.810Z
dan
<p>对...的责任 means "responsibility to ..."</p>

<p>就是 translates as "is" here. The character 就 may be what is confusing you, it's a very common character that is hard to explain but you will get a feel for it as you learn more Chinese. </p>

<p>Overall translation:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这个重大责任， 就是对民族的责任。<br>
  This great responsibility is a responsibility to the nation (where nation implies "people" rather than "country“)</p>
</blockquote>

<p>"Duty" would also be a valid choice rather than "responsibility", depending on the context.</p>

<p>Hope that helps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-11T13:04:44.187Z
2019-01-11T13:04:44.187Z
Angus Macrae
<p>I encountered the following sentence recently:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>这个重大责任， 就是对民族的责任。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I loosely translated it to:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>This important responsibility is the nation's responsibility.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>But grammatically, I was confused by the use of 就是 and 对. I would have written it without those words. What grammatical function do 就是 and 对 play in the sentence?  </p>

<translation><grammar>
What is the function 就是 and 对 in 这个重大责任， 就是对民族的责任?
# What is the function 就是 and 对 in 这个重大责任， 就是对民族的责任?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-10)

I encountered the following sentence recently:

> 这个重大责任， 就是对民族的责任。

I loosely translated it to:

> This important responsibility is the nation's responsibility.

But grammatically, I was confused by the use of 就是 and 对. I would have written it without those words. What grammatical function do 就是 and 对 play in the sentence?

**Tags:** translation, grammar


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## 3 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-01-10. Score: 5

1. "这个重大责任， [**是**]民族的责任。" - "This major responsibility, [**is**] the people's responsibility "
2. "这个重大责任， [**就是**]民族的责任。" - "This major responsibility, [**exactly is**]
   the people's responsibility "
3. "这个重大责任， [**就是**][**对**] 民族的责任。" - "This major responsibility, [**exactly is**] the responsibility [**to**] the people"

In all cases, '**这个重大责任**' is the **topic** of a [topic + comment/opinion] sentence

The comment/ opinion:

* 1b. '是民族的责任'" (is people's responsibility) is the comment on the **topic**
* 2b. '是' = 'is' ; '就是' = 'exactly is' ; '就' has many meanings. However, in this sentence, it means 'exactly', which emphasize the verb '是', not only "it is", it "exactly is"
* 3b. '对'(toward) = 'to' ; it is a preposition that indicates which object this responsibility is for

民族的责任 = the people's responsibility

[**对**]民族[**的**]责任 = responsibility [**toward**/ **to**] the people

*Rephrase in English grammar: "This major responsibility, is the responsibility to the people"*


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### Answer by username_2 on 2019-01-11. Score: 1

就是 is more like "*that is*" in English. It's an emphasis on the explanation of the afforementioned "责任".


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-01-11. Score: 1

对...的责任 means "responsibility to ..."

就是 translates as "is" here. The character 就 may be what is confusing you, it's a very common character that is hard to explain but you will get a feel for it as you learn more Chinese.

Overall translation:

> 这个重大责任， 就是对民族的责任。  
> This great responsibility is a responsibility to the nation (where nation implies "people" rather than "country“)

"Duty" would also be a valid choice rather than "responsibility", depending on the context.

Hope that helps.


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