任

• Pinyin: rèn
• Hanzi breakdown: 任 = 亻(person) + 壬 (phonetic, originally a carrying beam) — to bear responsibility

Meaning

To serve as; to hold a position; to appoint. Used to indicate taking on or occupying an official role.

A formal verb used in professional and official contexts to describe holding a position or being appointed to a role. Often appears in news, biographies, and official announcements. Can also function as a measure word for terms of office (第一任总统 = first-term president). More formal than 当 (to serve as).

Examples

1. 她去年开始任这个部门的经理。 She started serving as the manager of this department last year.
2. 他曾经任过三年的班长。 He once served as class monitor for three years.
3. 新任校长下周一正式上任。 The newly appointed principal will officially take office next Monday.

Usage Guide

Context: official titles, appointments, news, biographies

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 他被任为项目负责人。(He was appointed as project leader.)
• 她任教已经有二十年了。(She has been serving as a teacher for twenty years.)

Don't Say

• 我任了一个好爸爸。(Don't use 任 for informal family roles — use 当. 任 is reserved for official or professional positions.)

Origin & History

任 combines 亻(person) and 壬 (a phonetic component originally depicting a carrying beam). The original sense was to carry or bear, extended to bearing a responsibility or position.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal