任

rén, rèn

亻 + 壬

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

rèn (verb) to appoint; to assign

rèn (verb) to hold a position; to serve in office

rèn (verb) to allow; to let; to give free rein to

rèn (particle) no matter (how, what)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 亻 represents the meaning and 壬 represents the sound.

Semantic: 亻 Phonetic: 壬

About

任 is a phono-semantic compound: 亻 (rén, person) gives the meaning, and 壬 (rén) gives the sound. 壬 originally depicted a person carrying a burden on a pole, reinforcing the idea of bearing a load. From this, the character came to mean bearing responsibility, holding an official position, or carrying out a duty. It later expanded to include appointing someone to a role, assigning tasks, and allowing or letting someone act freely, functioning as both a noun for an official post and a verb for shouldering responsibility.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Mid Western Zhou (~900 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Warring States (~250 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal etymology image

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

任何事都有可能。

Rènhé shì dōu yǒu kěnéng.

Anything is possible.

他有一个重要的任务。

Tā yǒu yī gè zhòngyào de rènwù.

He has an important mission.

她担任班级的班长。

Tā dānrèn bānjí de bānzhǎng.

She serves as the class monitor.

他为人非常信任朋友。

Tā wéirén fēicháng xìnrèn péngyou.

He is a person who trusts his friends very much.

这孩子有时有点任性。

Zhè háizi yǒushí yǒudiǎn rènxìng.

This child is sometimes a bit willful.

他出任了公司的总经理。

Tā chūrèn le gōngsī de zǒng jīnglǐ.

He took up the post of the company's general manager.

新校长的任期是五年。

Xīn xiàozhǎng de rènqī shì wǔ nián.

The new principal's term of office is five years.

任何艰难险阻都任重道远。

Rènhé jiānnán xiǎnzǔ dōu rènzhòngdàoyuǎn.

Any difficulties and obstacles make the task arduous and the road long.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 亻

Component: 壬

Example Words