在任 (zài rén) — (verb) to be in office, to hold a position; (noun/adjective) incumbent, current officeholder

Definition

Used for someone currently holding an office or position, often a political leader. Compare with 任职 (to hold a post, broader for any job) and 现任 (current / incumbent, used more as an adjective before a title).

verb
to be in officeto hold a position(noun/adjective) incumbentcurrent officeholder

Examples

  • 在任。
    Zhè wèi zǒng tǒng zài rén wǔ nián le.
    This president has been in office for five years.
  • 在任，。
    zài rén Qī jiān, tā tuī dòng le jiào yù gǎi gé.
    During his term, he promoted education reform.
  • 在任。
    zài rén Zǒng tǒng fā biǎo le zhòng yào jiǎng huà.
    The incumbent president delivered an important speech.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

在zàibe at
任rènoffice

在 indicates being at, and 任 refers to office, so the word means holding a post.

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.

The early form of 在 used 才 for its sound; a second sound part 士 was added later, and that 士 became the 土 seen in 在.

Open 在 →

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 →

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