Chinese for a Two-Person Project: Dividing Tasks with 我负责 and 你负责
Learn to split a two-person project in Mandarin: say who does what with 我负责, 你负责, 你来…吧, and confirm a plan with 行, 没问题, 就这么定了.
By PookieFriends & plans · Yapr Learn
When two people build something together, the first useful move is to divide the work out loud. In Mandarin, the cleanest tool for this is 负责 (fùzé), which means 'to be responsible for' a task. You say 我负责… (I'll handle…) and 你负责… (you handle…). This is different from a study group, where people mainly exchange information; here you are assigning parts of a product, so each sentence should name one concrete task. This lesson gives you the phrases, the pattern, and a short planning conversation you can adapt to a report, a video, a poster, or a small app.
By the end, you can…
- say which part of a two-person project I will handle using 我负责…
- assign a task to my partner with 你负责… or 你来…吧
- agree to a division of work with 行, 没问题, or 就这么定了
- ask who is doing a specific task with 谁负责…?
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
我负责查资料。
I'll do the research.
wǒ fùzé chá zīliào
Use 查资料 for looking things up and gathering sources; it is the natural phrase for the research half of a project.
你负责写。
You write. / You're in charge of writing.
nǐ fùzé xiě
A direct but normal task assignment between equals. 写 here means drafting the text.
你来写第一部分吧。
You write the first part, then.
nǐ lái xiě dì-yī bùfen ba
你来…吧 softens an assignment into a suggestion; 第一部分 means 'the first part'.
谁负责做PPT？
Who is responsible for making the slides?
shéi fùzé zuò PPT
PPT is commonly used in mainland Mandarin for presentation slides. 谁 (shéi) asks 'who'.
行，没问题。
OK, no problem.
xíng, méi wèntí
A quick, friendly way to accept a task or a plan. 行 alone also means 'that works'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is 人 + 负责 + 任务: 我负责查资料。 (I'll do the research.) 你负责写。 (You write.) To ask about a task, put 谁 before 负责: 谁负责做PPT？ (Who's doing the slides?) You can also use 你来 + verb + 吧 to suggest a division: 你来写第一部分吧。 (You write the first part.) Notice that Chinese verbs do not change for person: 我负责 and 你负责 use the same 负责. There is no separate word for 'will' here; context and the task itself show it is a plan.
When to use it
Use these sentences at the start of a two-person project, when you are deciding who does what. 我负责… states your own task; 你负责… assigns your partner's task. If you want to sound less like a boss, use 你来…吧: 你来整理图片吧。 (You organize the pictures.) To confirm the whole plan, say 就这么定了。 (Let's settle on this.) This is stronger than a question and closes the planning stage. If your partner suggests something, answer 行 or 没问题 to accept it.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
我们两个人做这个项目，怎么分工？
The two of us are doing this project — how should we divide the work?wǒmen liǎng ge rén zuò zhège xiàngmù, zěnme fēngōng我负责查资料，你负责写。
I'll do the research, you write.wǒ fùzé chá zīliào, nǐ fùzé xiě行。谁负责做PPT？
OK. Who's responsible for the slides?xíng. shéi fùzé zuò PPT我来做PPT吧。就这么定了。
I'll do the slides. Let's settle on that.wǒ lái zuò PPT ba. jiù zhème dìng leA little context goes a long way
In many Chinese workplaces and classrooms, stating tasks plainly with 我负责 and 你负责 is normal and efficient; it is not considered rude between people of similar status. With a teacher, a boss, or someone older, soften the assignment by asking instead: 您看谁负责做PPT？ (Who do you think should do the slides?) The particle 吧 makes a suggestion sound collaborative, and 就这么定了 is friendly but firm — use it when the group is ready to stop discussing and start working.
One thing to watch for
Adding a past or future marker to 负责, as in 我负责了查资料 to mean 'I'll do the research'.
Try this instead: Keep the plan simple: 我负责查资料。 The particle 了 marks completion, so 我负责了查资料 sounds like the research is already finished. If you need to say it is finished, use a result phrase: 资料我已经查好了。 (I've already finished the research.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You want to say 'I'll do the research.' Which sentence is correct?
Show a sample answer
我负责查资料。
我负责 + task names your own responsibility. 我查资料 is also grammatical but only states an action, not a division of labor.
2Your partner says 你负责写。 How can you accept it politely and briefly?
Show a sample answer
行，没问题。
This accepts the task without extra formality. 好的 or 可以 also work; 不行 would refuse.
3Ask 'Who is responsible for making the slides?' in Mandarin.
Show a sample answer
谁负责做PPT？
谁 + 负责 + task asks about a person's responsibility. 谁做PPT？ is possible, but 谁负责 makes the project role clearer.
For a two-person project, name one task per sentence: 我负责…, 你负责…, and close the plan with 就这么定了。
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