调任 (diào rèn) — to be transferred to another post (of an official or employee)

Definition

Formal/HR term meaning an official or employee is reassigned to a different post, usually within the same organization. The job changes, but rank and employer stay the same.

verb
to be transferred to another post (of an official or employee)

Examples

  • 调任。
    Tā qù nián diào rèn dào běi jīng le.
    He was transferred to Beijing last year.
  • 。
    Tā zài zhè jiā gōng sī diào guò liǎng cì rèn.
    He has been transferred twice in this company.
  • 调任。
    Gōng sī jué dìng diào rèn tā qù hǎi wài gōng zuò.
    The company decided to transfer him to work overseas.

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.

调tiáotransfer
任rèntake up a post

调 and 任 both concern changing or assuming an official post, so together they mean being transferred to another 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 調; 调 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
言言yán
Sound part声符shēngfú
周
周zhōu調tiáo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 調 pairs 言 (speech) with 周, which shows how it was pronounced. The simplified 调 is a later shorthand.

Open 调 →

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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