任凭 (rèn píng) — no matter how/what; regardless of

Definition

A formal/written conjunction meaning 'no matter how/what' — it links a concession clause to a main clause that asserts the same outcome. Compare with 不管 (more colloquial, slightly broader).

conjunction
no matter how/whatregardless of

Examples

  • 任凭，。
    rèn píng Tā zěn me jiě shì, tā dōu bù xiāng xìn.
    No matter how he explained, she still didn't believe him.
  • 任凭，。
    rèn píng Kùn nan duō dà, wǒ men dōu yào jiān chí xià qù.
    No matter how great the difficulty, we must persevere.
  • 任凭，。
    rèn píng Bié rén shuō shén me, wǒ dōu bú dòng yáo.
    No matter what others say, I will not waver.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

任rènlet
凭píngrely

任 and 凭 both carry the sense of letting something stand or relying on it, so together they mean no matter what or leave it to.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
壬
壬rén任rèn
Same sound today

任 pairs 亻, a person, with 壬, which may picture a shoulder pole turned sideways.

Open 任 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 憑; 凭 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
心心xīn
Sound part声符shēngfú
馮
馮féng憑píng
Same sound today

In the traditional form 憑, 心 relates to the heart or mind, and 馮 gives the sound. The simplified 凭 is a later abbreviation, so its visible parts are not the historical parts.

Open 凭 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.