The word 任何 is formed by combining two distinct characters, each contributing a core conceptual piece. 任 carries the meaning of "to assign" or "to bear a duty", introducing a sense of appointment or unspecified burden. 何 means "what" or "which", providing an interrogative or indefinite quality. Their fusion creates a composite idea where the sense of "assigning" or "bearing" merges with "whichever", ultimately yielding the comprehensive meaning of "any" or "whichever", as in designating an unspecified item from an open set.