走马上任 (zǒu mǎ shàng rèn) — (idiom) to take up a post, to assume office

Definition

A vivid chengyu meaning 'to ride to a post and take office' — i.e. assume a new position, often with a sense of speed or readiness. Use for officials, managers, or any formal appointment; more literary than 就职.

idiom
to take up a postto assume office

Examples

  • 走马上任。
    Tā xià ge yuè jiù yào zǒu mǎ shàng rèn le.
    He will take up the post next month.
  • 走马上任，。
    Xīn jīng lǐ zuó tiān zǒu mǎ shàng rèn, jīn tiān jiù kāi shǐ gōng zuò le.
    The new manager assumed office yesterday and started working today.
  • 走马上任。
    Zhè cì zǒu mǎ shàng rèn duì tā lái shuō shì yí gè hěn dà de tiǎo zhàn.
    Taking up this post is a big challenge for him.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The original shape showed a running man, with a foot added later.

Open 走 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 馬; 马 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 馬 shows a horse with its head facing left, a flowing mane, and two legs standing vertically.

Open 马 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

上 is drawn as a short horizontal line placed above a longer arc, marking a position above that arc.

Open 上 →

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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