嘱する

• Reading: しょくする
• Romaji: shokusuru
• Kanji breakdown: 嘱 (shoku) — to entrust, commission
• Pronunciation: /ɕo.kɯ.sɯ.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To entrust; to commission; to request. To formally charge or commission someone with a task or responsibility.

A Group 3 (suru) verb, though it may also appear as 嘱す (godan). 嘱する carries an official, formal tone — it appears in legal, administrative, and literary contexts where someone is formally tasked or designated. The related noun 嘱託 (shokutaku — commissioned work, part-time official appointment) is more commonly encountered in everyday usage. In literary writing, 期待を嘱する (to place expectations on someone) is a set phrase.

Examples

1. 調査委員会は外部の専門家に報告書の作成を嘱した。 The investigative committee commissioned an external expert with the preparation of the report.
2. 次世代に期待を嘱する意味を込め、若手研究者に特別助成金が授与された。 A special grant was awarded to a young researcher, with the intent of placing expectations on the next generation.
3. 知事は都市計画の策定を有識者会議に嘱し、六か月後に答申を求めた。 The governor commissioned a panel of experts with drafting the urban development plan, requesting a report within six months.

Usage Guide

Context: administration, law, official appointments, literature

Tone: formal, official

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese verb from 嘱 (shoku — to entrust, commission). The kanji 嘱 contains 口 (mouth, speech) and 属 (to belong, be attached), suggesting the act of verbally assigning responsibility to someone. Attested in classical Chinese administrative texts.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical-Modern

Generation: Adult professional

Social background: Educated, official