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

Simplified form of . Pictograph of a gate.

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

Comprising the person radical 亻 and the phonetic element 壬, the character 任 originated from the idea of carrying a load, which evolved to signify bearing responsibility or undertaking a task. This core notion of burden and duty gradually expanded to include the appointment of individuals to positions of authority, thus generating meanings related to office, trust, and permission. While its graphical form has remained stable over time, the character's semantic development illustrates a shift from concrete physical actions to abstract administrative and interpersonal concepts, resulting in its current range of uses from denoting official posts to expressing allowance or indifference.

Example Sentences Hide

何事都有可能。

Rènhé shì dōu yǒu kěnéng.

Anything is possible.

他有一个重要的务。

Tā yǒu yī gè zhòngyào de rènwù.

He has an important mission.

她担班级的班长。

Tā dānrèn bānjí de bānzhǎng.

She serves as the class monitor.

他为人非常信朋友。

Tā wéirén fēicháng xìnrèn péngyou.

He is a person who trusts his friends very much.

这孩子有时有点性。

Zhè háizi yǒushí yǒudiǎn rènxìng.

This child is sometimes a bit willful.

他出了公司的总经理。

Tā chūrèn le gōngsī de zǒng jīnglǐ.

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

新校长的期是五年。

Xīn xiàozhǎng de rènqī shì wǔ nián.

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

何艰难险阻都重道远。

Rènhé jiānnán xiǎnzǔ dōu rènzhòngdàoyuǎn.

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