胜任 (shèng rèn) — to be qualified for, to be competent at (a job, position, or task)

Definition

胜任 focuses on meeting the requirements of a specific job or task — 'to be qualified/competent for' a role. It pairs naturally with 岗位/工作/任务, unlike the more general 能干 ('capable' as a trait).

verb
to be qualified forto be competent at (a job, position, or task)

Examples

  • 胜任
    Jīng guò péi xùn, tā wán quán néng shèng rèn zhè ge gǎng wèi.
    After training, he is fully qualified for this position.
  • 胜任
    Tā de néng lì hé jīng yàn zú yǐ shèng rèn zhè fèn tiǎo zhàn.
    Her ability and experience are sufficient to be up to this challenge.
  • 胜任
    Gōng sī xū yào yí gè néng shèng rèn hǎi wài yè wù de jīng lǐ.
    The company needs a manager who is competent in overseas operations.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

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

shèngwithstand

胜 “withstand” and 任 “task” describe being up to a job.

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
ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
shēngshèng
Same sound today

The simplified 胜 changes the traditional 勝 by replacing part of its sound side with 生; the left 肉 relates to meat.

Open 胜 →

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
Written in full asrénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
rénrèn
Same sound today

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

Open 任 →

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