任任

rèn

HSK 3HSK 3 (Write)Most Common

Basic Meaning

Formal usage, common in professional and governmental contexts (e.g., 任命部长).

to appoint; to assign (a post); to employ

任命，使用，给予职务。

Words:

任人唯贤任用任命委任任人唯亲

Sentences:

公(gōng)司(sī)任(rèn)命(mìng)了(le)一(yī)位(wèi)新(xīn)的(de)经(jīng)理(lǐ)。
The company appointed a new manager.
学(xué)校(xiào)任(rèn)用(yòng)了(le)很(hěn)多(duō)年(nián)轻(qīng)教(jiào)师(shī)。
The school hired many young teachers.

Often used in set phrases like 任务 (task) and 责任 (responsibility).

post; position; duty; task

职务，任务。

Words:

任重道远上任重任担当重任就任

Sentences:

他(tā)担(dān)任(rèn)这(zhè)个(ge)职(zhí)务(wù)已(yǐ)经(jīng)三(sān)年(nián)了(le)。
He has held this position for three years.
完(wán)成(chéng)这(zhè)个(ge)重(zhòng)任(rèn)需(xū)要(yào)团(tuán)队(duì)合(hé)作(zuò)。
Completing this important task requires teamwork.

Used in contexts of enduring hardship or taking on responsibility. Often seen in the idiom 任劳任怨.

to bear; to undertake; to endure

担当；承受。

Words:

任劳任怨

Sentences:

他(tā)为(wèi)家(jiā)人(rén)任(rèn)劳(láo)任(rèn)怨(yuàn)，从(cóng)不(bù)抱(bào)怨(yuàn)。
He works hard and endures hardship for his family without complaint.

A functional word for counting tenures, like his 'third term' as president.

(measure word for) term of office

用于担任官职的届数或次数。

Synonyms:

届

Sentences:

这(zhè)是(shì)他(tā)担(dān)任(rèn)总(zǒng)统(tǒng)的(de)第(dì)三(sān)任(rèn)了(le)。
This is his third term serving as president.
这(zhè)位(wèi)校(xiào)长(zhǎng)是(shì)本(běn)校(xiào)的(de)第(dì)五(wǔ)任(rèn)校(xiào)长(zhǎng)。
This principal is the fifth principal of our school.

conj

Functions as a conjunction introducing a concessive clause, similar to 无论.

no matter (who/what/how); regardless; whether

不论；不管。

Words:

任何任凭放任任选任便

Sentences:

任(rèn)你(nǐ)是(shì)谁(shéi)，都(dōu)必(bì)须(xū)遵(zūn)守(shǒu)规(guī)定(dìng)。
No matter who you are, you must follow the rules.
任(rèn)天(tiān)气(qì)多(duō)坏(huài)，我(wǒ)们(men)也(yě)要(yào)出(chū)发(fā)。
No matter how bad the weather is, we will still set off.

Sometimes carries a nuance of permissiveness or lack of restraint, as in 放任.

to let (someone do something); to allow; to indulge

由着，听凭。

Words:

任意任性任凭放任自流听之任之

Sentences:

你(nǐ)不(bù)能(néng)总(zǒng)是(shì)这(zhè)样(yàng)任(rèn)性(xìng)。
You can't always be so willful.
他(tā)任(rèn)凭(píng)孩(hái)子(zi)玩(wán)手(shǒu)机(jī)，不(bù)制(zhì)止(zhǐ)。
He allowed the child to play with the phone without stopping him.

Refers to the action of being in a position or role. Can overlap with sense 1, but focus here is on the 'being' not the 'appointing'.

to hold (a post); to serve as

担任。

Words:

任职任期任教连选连任担任

Sentences:

他(tā)在(zài)这(zhè)家(jiā)公(gōng)司(sī)任(rèn)职(zhí)超(chāo)过(guò)十(shí)年(nián)了(le)。
He has been employed at this company for over ten years.
她(tā)希(xī)望(wàng)担(dān)任(rèn)志(zhì)愿(yuàn)者(zhè)帮(bāng)助(zhù)别(bié)人(rén)。
She hopes to serve as a volunteer to help others.