任职

• Pinyin: rèn zhí
• Hanzi breakdown: 任 = 亻+ 壬 (carrying responsibility); 职 = 耳 + 只 (listening and responding = duty/post)

Meaning

To hold a position; to serve in an official role or capacity. Refers to occupying or being appointed to a post.

Common in formal, organisational, and governmental contexts. Often collocates with 期间 (during one's tenure) or specific job titles. Different from 就职, which emphasises the ceremonial moment of taking office; 任职 emphasises the ongoing state of holding the role.

Examples

1. 他在该部门任职期间，主持完成了多项重大基础设施项目。 During his tenure in the department, he led the completion of several major infrastructure projects.
2. 董事会正式宣布她将于下月起在总部任职，负责战略规划。 The board of directors officially announced that starting next month, she will take up a post at headquarters in charge of strategic planning.
3. 这位学者曾在多所顶尖大学任职，学术资历十分深厚。 This scholar has held positions at several top universities and has very deep academic credentials.

Usage Guide

Context: organisations, government, business

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 他目前在市政府任职，主要负责城市规划与土地管理事务。(He currently holds a post in the city government, primarily responsible for urban planning and land management.)
• 该职位要求候选人曾在国际机构任职至少五年。(The position requires candidates to have held a post in an international institution for at least five years.)

Don't Say

• 我想任职这个工作 — use 应聘 to apply or 担任 to hold a role; 任职 implies prior appointment, not personal intention to apply

Origin & History

任 (to serve/hold) + 职 (position/duty)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal